The International League T20 has imposed a 20-month ban on fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq for violating his Player Agreement with Sharjah Warriors, the team that signed him for Season 1 of the tournament. Despite being offered a one-year extension by the Warriors, Naveen declined to sign the retention notice for Season 2.
During Season 1 of the ILT20 (January-February 2023), Naveen represented Sharjah Warriors, who had earlier sent him a retention notice based on the same terms and conditions outlined in the Player Agreement.
In response to the dispute, Sharjah Warriors sought the intervention of the ILT20. Initially, the league attempted to mediate the disagreement through an independent third-party mediator, but the mediation proved unsuccessful. The ILT20’s three-member Disciplinary Committee, comprising Chief Executive Officer David White, Head of Security and Anti-Corruption Col. Azam, and Member of the Emirates Cricket Board Zayed Abbas, individually heard both parties—Naveen and Sharjah Warriors. After examining the evidence, the committee reached a final verdict, imposing a 20-month ban on Naveen. CEO of ILT20, David White, stated, “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 honor 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.”