20-Month Ban: Naveen-ul-Haq banned for 20 months in ILT20 for breaching contract with Sharjah Warriors.
Refusal to Sign: Ban results from Naveen’s refusal to sign retention notice for ILT20 Season 2.
Concurrent Leagues: Despite the ban, Naveen signs with Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20 league.
In a significant development, Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has been handed a 20-month ban from the UAE’s ILT20 league for breaching his player agreement with Sharjah Warriors. The ban stems from Naveen’s refusal to sign the retention notice for the second season of ILT20, prompting the league’s disciplinary committee, including CEO David White, Col Azam, and Zayed Abbas, to impose the exclusion.
The decision bars Naveen from participating in ILT20 during 2024 and 2025, raising questions about his concurrent signing with Durban’s Super Giants in the South African SA20 league. Interestingly, the team is owned by the group that also owns the IPL team Lucknow Super Giants, of which Naveen is a part.
Despite Warriors sending a retention notice earlier this year and ILT20’s attempt at mediation through an independent third-party, the contractual dispute remained unresolved. Sharjah Warriors sought league intervention, leading to a transparent disciplinary process where both parties presented their submissions.
CEO David White expressed regret in making the announcement but emphasized the necessity of upholding contractual obligations, highlighting the potential damage from non-compliance. ILT20 recognizes the consequences of such breaches and stresses the importance of all parties acknowledging them.
Naveen’s ban comes on the heels of a notable performance in the 2023 ILT20 season, where he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker for Warriors with 11 wickets. Despite individual feats, the team struggled, winning only three out of ten games and missing the playoffs.
“We do not take pride in making this announcement but all parties are expected to comply with their contractual commitments and recognize that non-compliance can cause damage to the other party. Unfortunately, Naveen-ul-Haq failed to honour his contractual obligations with the Sharjah Warriors and as such the league had no option but to impose this 20-month ban on him.
“The disciplinary proceedings against Naveen were conducted transparently and both parties involved were given opportunities to prepare and present their submissions.”
In a league where transparency is paramount, ILT20 reaffirms its commitment to fair and transparent disciplinary proceedings. The incident serves as a reminder of the league’s dedication to maintaining integrity and upholding contractual commitments.
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