The Melbourne Renegades, a team in the Big Bash League (BBL), recently made the decision to exclude Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman from their lineup for the Melbourne Derby against the Stars, scheduled for January 2. This move followed a change in the conditions of his No Objection Certificate (NOC). Mujeeb had participated in six matches of the current BBL season, even as Afghanistan's national cricket team was engaged in a T20I series against the UAE.
This development is a result of actions taken by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) against Mujeeb and fellow players Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi. The ACB had reprimanded the trio for choosing to prioritize participation in franchise-based leagues over their national duties. As a consequence, the players expressed their wish to relinquish their central contracts and sought NOCs to play in various global T20 leagues.
In response to their request, the ACB decided to delay the renewal of their central contracts and imposed a two-year ban, effective from January 1, 2024, on their participation in overseas leagues. Initially, the Melbourne Renegades stated that they had not received any official communication regarding a change in Mujeeb Ur Rahman's NOC and expressed their intention to continue supporting the spinner. However, as of January 1, they chose to leave Mujeeb out of their team.
"Mujeeb Ur Rahman has also been removed from the squad after a change to his No-Objection Certificate (NOC) conditions made him unavailable for the match," the Renegades said in a statement.
While Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi were selected for the ongoing T20I series in the UAE, Mujeeb did not join them, opting instead to remain in Australia for the BBL. The ACB's decision to include Naveen and Fazalhaq in the squad came after the board acknowledged their strong desire to represent Afghanistan again.
The future of Mujeeb Ur Rahman's participation in other leagues, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), remains uncertain. Despite being acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders at his base price of Rs 2 crore in the IPL 2024 auction, it is unclear whether he will be allowed to play for the two-time IPL champions in the upcoming season, given the recent changes in his NOC conditions by the ACB. This situation highlights the ongoing balancing act between national commitments and the allure of global T20 franchises for players from cricketing nations.
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