Akash Chopra has slammed the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) for their decision to not grant No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to three Afghan players; Naveen-ul Haq, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and Fazal Haq Farooqi for overseas franchise-based leagues for the next two years.
ACB took this decision as the disciplinary measure, saying that the cricketers were prioritizing leagues ahead of the national team.
These three players have a significant role in their respective teams in the Indian Premier League and gained popularity from there.
Akash Chopra, however, feels that this decision will devoid them of opportunities as they become famous by these leagues not by ACB.
“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,” he said in JioCinema’s daily sports show.
“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?”
Now, franchises have to look for replacements for these players ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“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,” Akash Chopra concluded.
