In a significant development, Naveen-ul-Haq, the talented Afghan pacer, has been handed a 20-month ban by the UAE’s International League T20 (ILT20) for violating his player agreement with Sharjah Warriors. The breach occurred when he refused to sign the retention notice for the second season of the tournament, scheduled to take place in January-February of the upcoming year.
This decision effectively sidelines Naveen from participating in ILT20 in both 2024 and 2025. Despite this setback, he has secured a spot with Durban’s Super Giants in the South African SA20 league, which coincides with the ILT20 schedule. Intriguingly, Durban’s Super Giants are affiliated with the IPL team Lucknow Super Giants, in which Naveen is also a part.
Sharjah Warriors, who initially signed Naveen for the league’s inaugural edition in 2023, had previously sent him a retention notice on the same terms and conditions earlier in the year. The ILT20 statement noted that Sharjah Warriors approached the league to intervene, leading to the initiation of a mediation process through an independent third-party mediator. Regrettably, the mediation proved unsuccessful.
The league’s disciplinary committee, comprising ILT20 Chief Executive David White, Head of Security and Anti-Corruption Col Azam, and Zayed Abbas, a member of the Emirates Cricket Board, meticulously considered the perspectives of both Sharjah Warriors and Naveen. The evidence was thoroughly examined before the committee communicated its verdict.
David White emphasized, “We do not take pride in making this announcement, but all parties are expected to comply with their contractual commitments and recognize that non-compliance can cause damage to the other party. Unfortunately, Naveen-ul-Haq failed to honor his contractual obligations with the Sharjah Warriors, and as such, the league had no option but to impose this 20-month ban on him.”
“The disciplinary proceedings against Naveen were conducted transparently, and both parties involved were given opportunities to prepare and present their submissions,” White added.
Naveen, a standout performer for Warriors in the 2023 season, where he emerged as their joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Junaid Siddique with 11 wickets, faced an unfortunate turn of events. Despite his success, the Warriors struggled, winning only three out of ten games, and failing to secure a spot in the playoffs.
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What does this ban mean for Naveen’s future?
The 24-year-old, who recently retired from ODIs after the World Cup, will be absent from ILT20 for the next 20 months, potentially missing two seasons of the International League T20. However, the ban doesn’t preclude him from participating in other T20 leagues and on the international stage. Therefore, he could still represent Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2024 and continue to contribute to Afghanistan’s T20 matches.
The upcoming ILT20 Season 2 is scheduled for January-February next year, with Sharjah Warriors hosting Gujarat Giants in the opener at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on January 19, 2024.
