As per a report in news agency PTI, the right-arm pacer had signed up for the Sharjah Warriors for the opening season of the tournament. He was offered another year's extension but refused to sign the retention notice for Season 2.
Sharjah Warriors then approached the tournament organizers to intervene in the dispute. Apparently, ILT20 first initiated a mediation process via an independent third-party mediator. However, the mediation is said to have failed.
The ILT20's three-member Disciplinary Committee comprising Chief Executive Officer David White, Head of Security and Anti-Corruption Col. Azam and Member Emirates Cricket Board Zayed Abbas, separately heard both the parties on the matter. After examining the issue, they arrived at a conclusion and gave their final verdict, handing Naveen with a 20-month ban.
Releasing an official statement ILT20 CEO David White said:
"We do not take pride in making this announcement but all parties are expected to comply with their contractual commitments and recognise 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 in a transparent manner and both parties involved were given opportunities to prepare and present their submissions,” the statement went on to add.
The right-arm fast bowler had an impressive season for Sharjah Warriors in 2023. He was their joint-highest wicket-taker (11) along with Junaid Siddique. Warriors, however, won only three of their ten matches and did not make the playoffs.
While Naveen is unlikely to feature in the ILT20 in 2024 and 2025 following the ban, he has signed with Durban's Super Giants - the SA20 affiliate of Lucknow Super Giants, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise which he is part of.
24-year-old Naveen, who announced his shock retirement from one-day cricket earlier this year, has played 15 ODIs and 27 T20Is for Afghanistan, claiming 22 and 34 wickets respectively.
In his overall T20 career, he has played 145 matches in which he has picked up 175 scalps at an average of 23.42 and an economy rate of 8.09 with four four-wicket hauls and one five-for.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
