Afghanistan trio allowed to play in franchise leagues with new regulatory measures

NEW DELHI: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced on Monday that it has granted permission to bowlers Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naveen Ul Haq to participate in franchise leagues.
This decision comes with new regulatory measures that include a final warning, a salary deduction, and a stricter evaluation of the issuance of no-objection certificates (NOCs).
Under the new measures, each player will receive a final written warning and may face a specific salary deduction from their monthly earnings and/or match fees. The ACB will limit the issuance of NOCs, prioritizing national duty and the board's interests. Additionally, the players may receive central contracts, subject to strict monitoring of their performance and discipline.
The ACB had initially revoked the trio's request for permission to play in franchise leagues, leading to the withholding of necessary NOCs for participation in foreign leagues for two years and a delay in their annual contracts.
The board stated that these measures are intended to ensure the players' commitment to national duty.
ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf acknowledged the players' contributions to Afghan cricket and expressed hope that they would avoid similar inconveniences in the future while representing the country in the best manner.
(With inputs from Reuters)