Naveen-ul-Haq To Participate In SA20 As ACB Backtracks On NOC Decision And Relaxes Sanctions

After finishing international commitment, Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq is all set to feature in the SA20 2024 in South Africa. Naveen was sanctioned by the Afghanistan Cricket Board for prioritizing personal gains instead of playing for Afghanistan. Apart from Naveen-ul-Haq, two other cricketers including Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman were also sanctioned by ACB.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has given the NOC to Naveen-ul-Haq for featuring in the SA20 2024, as per ESPNCricinfo. Naveen has arrived in South Africa and will feature for the Durban Super Giants. He will be available to play against the Pretoria Capitals on Saturday, 18 January 2024.

Previously, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Fazalhaq Farooqi had urged the Afghanistan Cricket Board to not feature in the central contract list for 2024. Naveen, Farooqi, and Mujeeb wanted to look for better opportunities for themselves and play in various T20 leagues.

Naveen-ul-Haq granted NOC to play in SA20 2024

The ACB took the issue very seriously and sanctioned the players and didn’t issue NOCs to these players who are required to play in foreign leagues. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was playing for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, had to leave the franchise in the middle of the tournament and return home.

However, after all three players expressed their desire to play for the country, the Afghanistan Cricket Board relaxed the sanctions. By relaxing the sanctions, the Afghani players were included in the central contract whereas they were also granted limited NOCs by their board.

By not outlining the limits of the NOCs, ACB issued a press release. It read, “ACB will strictly consider the issuance of the NOCs to the respected players while prioritising the national duty and ACB’s interests.”

As per ESPNCricinfo, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi have also been granted NOCs by ACB and they can feature in the ILT20 2024 beginning from January 19. All three players shall also be issued NOCs to play in the Indian Premier League 2024.

Naveen-ul-Haq announced retirement from ODI cricket after the ODI World Cup 2023 and is only available to play T20 and Test cricket for Afghanistan.

All three players were part of Afghanistan’s squad for the T20I series against India. Afghanistan lost the contest by 3-0 but put up great competition in the last match in Bengaluru. While Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq picked 1 wicket from 2 games, Mujeeb Ur Rahman was also not able to do much in the series and picked up 2 wickets from 2 games.

While Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman will feature for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, Naveen-ul-Haq will be playing for the Lucknow Super Giants. Naveen engaged in a heated exchange with Indian batsman Virat Kohli during the last edition of the IPL and since then has been one of the main Afghani players that Indian fans will watch out for in IPL 2024.

The IPL 2024 will start in March, and players such as Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Ahmad, and many more are once again ready to showcase their talent in the biggest T20 league in the world.