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[Saba Sports News] The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s special committee has recommended against issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to players Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naveen ul Haq for the next two years. This suggestion comes in light of their request to be released from their annual central contracts.
Mujeeb has been associated with Kolkata Knight Riders, while Fazalhaq and Naveen are expected to join Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants, respectively, in the upcoming IPL season. The ACB has also postponed the 2024 annual central contracts for these players, following the committee’s advice. This decision was influenced by the players’ involvement in commercial leagues, which seemed to prioritize their personal interests over their commitment to the Afghanistan national team.
“The players have formally asked to be relieved from their central contracts from January 1, 2024, and have also sought approval for their participation in national events,” stated a committee member in an official ACB release on Monday.
The committee’s recommendations to the ACB’s top management include:
Not awarding central contracts to these players from January 1, 2024, for a year, with the ACB deciding on their event participation as needed.
Delaying the issuance of NOCs for two years, with immediate revocation of all current NOCs.
Transparent communication of the ACB’s stance to the cricket community, including the ICC, ACC, member countries/cricket boards, and the Afghan public.
The ACB’s decision is aimed at emphasizing national priorities and adhering to its core values and principles, stressing the importance for players to prioritize national commitments over personal interests.