Mujeeb ur Rahman, Neveen ul Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi not likely to get NOCs from ACB

Following their intention to be released from their annual central contracts, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) special committee has suggested the board to not offer No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Neveen ul Haq.

The ACB realised that the three cricketers were prioratising playing franchise cricket around the globe over playing for Afghanistan.

'The three players formally communicated their decision to the ACB, expressing their desire to release themselves from the annual central contract, starting from 1st January 2024, as well as requested to consider their consent for their participation in the national events,' a committee member was quoted in an official statement of ACB on Monday.

The committee presented the following recommendations to the ACB's top management:

1. Not Awarding Central Contracts: Starting from January 1, 2024, the three players shall not be eligible for the central contract for one year. In this case, ACB will consider and decide their participation in events when needed.
2. Delay Granting No Objection Certificates (NOCs): Consideration of these players as non-eligible to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for two years. All current NOCs shall be revoked immediately.
3. Transparently communicate ACB's stance to the cricketing community, including the ICC, the ACC, Member Countries/Cricket Boards, and the Afghanistan Public.

Mujeeb was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024 Auction, while Fazalhaq and Naveen are expected to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants respectively.