BigBash League 2022 Archives

Naveen quits BBL after Australia’s withdrawal from Afghanistan ODIs

Afghanistan’s Naveem-ul-Haq decided to leave the BigBash League in response to Cricket Australia’s decision to withdraw from the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, scheduled in UAE in March, citing increased restrictions on women’s rights under Taliban rule.

Taking to Twitter, Naveen, who represents Sydney Sixers in BBL, said he would no longer be part of the league after the withdrawal announcement by the Australian board, terming it a ‘childish decision’.

“Time to say won’t be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions that’s how they went about the one off test now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them” he tweeted soon after the Cricket Australia’s (CA) pull-out decision.

time to say won’t be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions that’s how they went about the one off test now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them #CA

— Naveen ul haq Murid (@imnaveenulhaq) January 12, 2023

CA on Thursday announced that the decision to pull out of the series was taken in the wake of the Taliban’s recent announcement regarding further restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment.

“Following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Australian Government, Cricket Australia has decided that it is unable to proceed at this time with the upcoming ICC Super League three-match Men’s ODI series between Australia and Afghanistan scheduled for the UAE in March 2023,” the CA statement said.

“This decision follows the recent announcement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms.”

Following the withdrawal from the series, Australia will forfeit 30 points to Afghanistan in the ICC ODI Super League. however, they have already secured automatic qualification to the ODI World Cup in India in October by being one of the top eight ranked nations in the Super League.

It is worth mentioning here that this is the second time Australia have cancelled a bilateral fixture with Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021.

Earlier they postponed the one-off Test against the side scheduled to be played in Hobart in November 2021, however, they did play Afghanistan in Adelaide during the last year’s T20 World Cup.

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Sydney Thunder terminate Fazalhaq Farooqi after ‘behaviour incident’

SYDNEY: Sydney Thunder on Friday terminated Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi’s Big Bash League contract with immediate effect following an investigation by Cricket Australia.

According to a statement issued by the Thunder, the club received a complaint about the behaviour of Farooqi following an incident last Thursday and referred the matter to Cricket Australia’s Integrity Unit for investigation.

However a CA statement said the details of the incident were confidential, and neither CA nor the Thunder would add any further comment.

“The behaviours displayed by Fazalhaq Farooqi sit outside our values and it was determined that his contract be terminated,” said Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon as quoted by the Thunders.

Farooqi has been part of Thunder’s playing XI in all four games, the club has played so far ongoing season of the BBL. He made an impressive debut for the club when he took 2 for 20 against Melbourne Stars, while he returned remarkable figures of 3/20 against Adelaide Strikers in the next game.

The left-arm pacer was signed by the franchise in November as a replacement after England’s David Willey announced his withdrawal from the tournament.

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Warner to revive BBL career with Sydney Thunder

SYDNEY: Big-hitting Australian batsman David Warner Sunday signed a two-year deal with Sydney Thunder, ending a nine-year absence from the Big Bash League.

The 35-year-old opener has not played in the domestic Twenty20 competition since 2013 and said he wanted to get involved again to help support the next generation.

“I’m really excited to get back to the Big Bash with the club where I started,” said Warner, a veteran of 96 Tests, 133 ODIs and 91 T20 games for Australia.

“I care deeply about the game, and I am conscious that the conditions that I enjoy as a professional cricketer have largely come from other senior players who have come before me.

“That is how the game is structured and I understand that my contribution to the future of the BBL will hopefully benefit the next generation of players long after I am retired.”

Warner has not represented Thunder since the third BBL season, where he played just one game. He also played a single game for them in the inaugural season, and has appeared once for the Sydney Sixers.

He will join the team after his international commitments end in January and could be available for as many as five regular season matches.

“The club has a tremendous group of young talented batters and leaders, with the likes of Jason Sangha, Ollie Davies, Matt Gilkes and Baxter Holt,” said Thunder head coach Trevor Bayliss.

“They will all benefit greatly from Davey’s experience and guidance.”

The BBL season starts on December 13 when Thunder face the Melbourne Stars.

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