Afghanistan’s cricket board has suspended three players for participating in a T20 league in India without official clearance, according to a report by India-based cricket outlet CREX.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) imposed four-month bans on Samiullah Shinwari, Aftab Alam and Mohammad Shahzad, barring them from all domestic and international cricket during that period, the report said.
The suspensions stem from the players’ participation in the Legends League Cricket in India without obtaining a required no-objection certificate (NOC) from the ACB, which regulates players’ involvement in overseas tournaments.
CREX reported that Shinwari was part of a team that won the tournament. Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan also played in the league but was not sanctioned, as he has retired from international cricket.
The ACB has not publicly commented in detail on the bans, but reports cited by CREX said the board has concerns about the league’s status, noting it is not officially recognized by the International Cricket Council or the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and may pose risks related to corruption.
According to the report, at least one of the players had sought approval before the tournament but did not receive a timely response from the board.
Shinwari has not played for Afghanistan in recent years, while Alam and Shahzad last represented the national team in 2023.
The ACB has tightened rules on players’ participation in foreign leagues in recent years. Earlier this year, it limited contracted players to a maximum of three overseas leagues annually, amid concerns that some players were prioritizing franchise cricket over national duty.
