ACB Bans Three Cricketers for Playing in Unrecognized Indian T20 League
Strict Disciplinary Action: ACB Bans Three Players Over Indian T20 League Participation
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has sent a clear and resounding message to its players regarding the importance of official protocols and regulatory compliance. In a significant development that has shaken the domestic cricket scene, the board has imposed a heavy four-month ban on three cricketers for participating in an Indian T20 league without obtaining the necessary permissions.
During this four-month suspension period, the affected players are strictly prohibited from participating in any domestic matches or representing Afghanistan in any international fixtures. This move underscores the ACB’s commitment to overseeing the professional conduct of its athletes, particularly those who frequently feature in various overseas leagues across the globe.
Who Are the Banned Players?
The ACB has come down heavy on Samiullah Shinwari, Aftab Alam, and Shehzad Mohammad. The primary reason for this disciplinary action is their participation in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) in India without securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the apex cricket board of Afghanistan.
The irony of the situation is that Samiullah Shinwari’s team, the Royal Riders Punjab, actually emerged as the winners of the tournament. While the victory on the field was a success, the administrative failure to secure an NOC has led to severe professional consequences.
Interestingly, veteran Asgar Afghan was also a part of the same winning squad. However, the ACB has not imposed any sanctions on him. The board clarified that since Asgar Afghan has already retired from international cricket, he is not subject to the same contractual obligations and permission requirements as active or semi-active players.
The Controversy: Lack of Recognition and Corruption Risks
Beyond the mere lack of an NOC, the ACB has expressed deep concerns regarding the nature of the league itself. According to a statement shared by Jafar Haand, board members are particularly unsettled by the fact that the Legends League is not officially recognized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) nor by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The board’s primary concern is the lack of oversight in such unrecognized tournaments. As per the official communication: “The board says that this league is not officially recognized by the International Cricket Council or the Indian Board and there is a ‘high risk of fraud and corruption’ in it.” In an era where the ICC is aggressively fighting match-fixing and spot-fixing, the ACB is unwilling to risk its players being exposed to unregulated environments.
Player Perspectives: The Struggle for Permission
The situation is not entirely one-sided. Reports suggest that the players felt trapped between their professional commitments and the board’s bureaucracy. One of the players reportedly approached the ACB for an NOC before the Legends League Cricket began. However, it is claimed that board members repeatedly delayed the process, leaving the players in a state of limbo.
Facing pressure from the LLC commissioner to whom they had already committed, the players eventually decided to participate without the formal paperwork. Furthermore, some players argued that since they had not featured for the national team in a significant amount of time, the need for ACB permission was negligible. For context, Samiullah Shinwari has not played a single game for Afghanistan in four years, while Aftab Alam and Shehzad Mohammad last appeared for their country in 2023.
The Broader Picture: ACB’s War on T20 League Overload
This incident is part of a larger trend of the ACB tightening its grip on player contracts. In recent years, the rise of global T20 leagues has led many contracted players to prioritize franchise cricket over international duties. To curb this, the ACB recently introduced a strict policy limiting every contracted player to a maximum of three overseas leagues per year.
This policy has had a visible impact on Afghanistan’s biggest stars, such as Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Given their immense global demand, these players must now carefully choose which leagues to join, ensuring they do not exceed the limit and jeopardize their standing with the national board.
By banning Shinwari, Alam, and Mohammad, the ACB is reinforcing the idea that no player, regardless of their current standing in the national squad, is above the board’s regulations. The message is clear: official channels must be followed, and the integrity of the game—as defined by the ICC—must come first.
