The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has penalized Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naveen Ul Haq for prioritizing personal interests over playing for Afghanistan. The cricket board has delayed the 2024 annual central contract and decided to cancel any no-objection clauses for the three for the next two years, including the no-objection clauses they currently hold.

The three recently informed the board of their desire to be released from the annual central contract starting January 1, 2024, the ACB statement said.

In an ACB statement on Monday, a member of the committee said, "The insistence on not signing the central contract for these players was their involvement in commercial leagues, prioritising their personal interests over playing for Afghanistan, which is regarded as a national responsibility. By opting for their release, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to take disciplinary measures against these players."

"The decision by the Afghanistan Cricket Board is made with a focus on national priorities, aligned with the ACB's core values and principles," the statement further said. "It highlights the necessity for every player to maintain the ACB's principles and prioritise the country's interests above their personal ones."

Recently in the IPL auction, Mujeeb was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders of IPL for USD 241,000. He is currently playing for Melbourne Renegades in Australia's BBL. In the IPL, Naveen is with Lucknow Super Giants and Farooqi is retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Both of them recently participated in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament.