In a recent and significant move, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has implemented sanctions against players Naveen Ul Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Fazalhaq Farooqi. The ACB has made a strong stance by delaying the central contracts of these individuals, a decision fuelled by the players’ conduct, which has been labelled as “prioritising their personal interests over playing for Afghanistan.”
The unfolding of events was revealed through an official press release from the ACB, which notified the public that the three cricketers had expressed their preference for participating in various global franchise tournaments over committing to central contracts with the ACB. This decision on their part to seek release from contractual obligations with the board has instigated the imposition of the penalties.
The ACB’s press document clearly indicated that the players’ reluctance to sign the central contracts was due to their engagements in different commercial league
cricket. Periodically, national boards issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) allowing players to participate in overseas leagues; however, this is typically done within a framework that ensures availability for national duty. The ACB has taken a view that this framework was breached by the players’ insistence on being released from central contracts.
“The insistence on not signing the central contract for these players was their involvement in commercial leagues, prioritising their personal interests over playing for Afghanistan, which is regarded as a national responsibility,” stated the ACB release. In response, the ACB’s decision comes as a disciplinary action aimed to uphold the standards of national commitment over individual gains.
The situation warranted thorough examination; hence, the ACB constituted a committee to scrutinise the issue and provide actionable recommendations that align with the Board’s policies and perspective. The committee’s counsel has severe implications for the careers of Naveen Ul Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
A pivotal recommendation from the committee was that all three players “shall not be eligible for the central contract for one year”. The decision to grant these players participation in future events will now be at the ACB’s discretion. Furthermore, the second recommendation posed by the committee may critically impact the trio’s esports trajectory by advising the revocation of their current NOCs, effectively barring them from obtaining new NOCs for a duration of two years.
This firm approach by the ACB sends a resonant message across the cricket community, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the Board’s principles and placing the nation’s interest ahead of personal ambitions.
It is noteworthy that the implications of these sanctions have unfolded in the backdrop of active involvement of the penalized players in prominent franchise cricket. Mujeeb Ur Rahman was recently acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at a price of USD 241,000 for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season and is contemporaneously representing Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League. Concurrently, Naveen Ul Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi are part of the rosters for Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively in the IPL.
The ACB’s decision has caused a stir in the world of cricket, demonstrating a hardline stance against choices that could undermine the primacy of national cricket commitments. Whether this will serve as a deterrent for other players, or lead to friction between players and national boards, remains to be seen. However, it is clear that the Afghanistan Cricket Board is intent on safeguarding the integrity of its national cricketing agenda.
