BBL 2023-34: Afghanistan star removed from Melbourne Renegades’ squad after change in NOC conditions

Melbourne Renegades have suffered a setback in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24 season as star spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman has been dropped from the squad. The action follows the sanctions imposed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Mujeeb will not be part of Renegades’ next feature against Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Tuesday, January 2.

The off-spinner, along with his teammates Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi, was sanctioned by the ACB after attempting to skip international matches and play in leagues. They expressed their desire to opt out of the central contract list in 2024. This forced the board not to issue NOCs to the trio to play T20 leagues for the next two years and cancel any NOCs they currently hold.

Meanwhile, Naveen and Farooqi, according to reports, approached the ACB and demonstrated their desire to play for the nation again. The two fast bowlers were later named in Afghanistan’s 18-man squad for the T20I series against the UAE, but Mujeeb was left out.

Notably, Renegades had earlier said in a statement that they had not received any communication from the board regarding Mujeeb’s participation in the league and would continue to support the cricketer for the rest of the season. However, on Monday, January 01, the Melbourne-based franchise released a new statement:

“Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been removed from the squad after a change to his NOC conditions made him unavailable for the match.”

Mujeeb’s impressive spell helps Renegades secure their first win

Mujeeb was part of Renegades’ playing XI for the sixth match against Adelaide Strikers on 29 December. The right-arm spinner registered figures of 3/20 in four overs and helped his side win their first game of the BBL 2023-24 season. He took seven wickets in six innings at an average of 22.42 and an economy of 7.47, making him joint fourth among the season’s highest wicket-takers.

The Renegades are currently seventh in the points table with 3 points from six matches. They need some quick turnaround to make a statement in the tournament. Mujeeb was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 mini-auction. ACB’s sanctions mean the Afghan player will not be available for the IPL 2024 season.