"Irony Is Dying...": Ex-India Star On Afghanistan Trio Not Getting IPL NOCs

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra said on Thursday about the Afghanistan Cricket Board's (ACB) decision to not grant No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Naveen-ul Haq, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi for T20 leagues and delay their national contracts that the situation is wrong on part of the board to deny players their right to make a living. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has decided to delay the 2024 annual central contracts for national players, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, and Naveen Ul Haq Mureed.

Additionally, the Board has opted not to grant them No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the next two years following their intention to be released from their annual central contracts.

"Irony is dying because you are not giving them contracts. You are not giving them opportunities. These players are becoming noteworthy not because the Afghanistan Cricket Board is doing a great job, but because they are playing franchise cricket. They go and play cricket in different countries. I feel it's wrong not to give them NOCs for two years. The players have already said that they make their living outside Afghanistan. They are being told to prioritize the country's interests. But if their interests are not protected, if they are not allowed to make a living, then what are they supposed to do? Having said this, this decision has increased the headache of three IPL franchises Lucknow, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Finding their replacement at the eleventh hour may be difficult. But we have still not heard the last word on this decision. There may still be a twist in this story," said Aakash on JioCinema show Aakashvani.

According to an ACB statement, the trio recently informed the board of their request to be released