Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman has been omitted from the Melbourne Renegades’ upcoming fixture in the 2023-24 Big Bash League against the Melbourne Stars on January 2 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground due to sanctions imposed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

Mujeeb, along with teammates Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi, faced sanctions from the ACB for prioritizing personal interests over national commitments. Their decision to withdraw from national contracts to participate in global T20 leagues led to the board’s sanctions. The ACB barred the trio from obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in T20 leagues for the next two years and revoked any existing NOCs.

Initially, Renegades management had no notice about Mujeeb’s future unavailability and expressed support. However, on January 1, the Renegades announced his exclusion from the squad due to alterations in his NOC conditions, rendering him unavailable for the upcoming match.

“Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been withdrawn from the squad due to changes in his NOC conditions that make him ineligible for the match,” stated the Melbourne Renegades.

In the previous fixture against Adelaide Strikers on December 29, Mujeeb played a crucial role, securing figures of 3/20 in four overs and aiding his team in securing their first win of the season. He stands as the joint-fourth-highest wicket-taker of the season, claiming seven wickets from six innings, averaging 22.42 with an economy of 7.47.

Meanwhile, Naveen and Farooqi have expressed their intentions to resume national duties, prompting their inclusion in Afghanistan’s 18-member squad for the ongoing T20I series against UAE. However, Mujeeb did not secure a spot in the squad.

The T20I series is currently leveled at 1-1, with Afghanistan winning the first game and UAE triumphing in the second fixture by 11 runs. The series’ final match is scheduled for January 2 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah.

Cricket Australia has announced a comprehensive investigation into the abandoned Big Bash League (BBL) fixture held in Geelong between the Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers. Safety concerns about the pitch prompted the clash’s cancellation after 6.5 overs were bowled.

Despite efforts by ground staff to rectify a wet patch caused by heavy weekend rain under the protective covers, the match received clearance to proceed. However, in the seventh over, umpires halted play with Perth at 30 for two, following a challenging three-ball sequence faced by Josh Inglis from Will Sutherland.

Inglis endured a blow to the groin, followed by an inside edge, and then a delivery that behaved unexpectedly, leaving wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock perplexed.

The audience expressed their dissatisfaction when the play was abandoned, marking the first instance of such an event in BBL’s history.

Cricket Australia expressed disappointment, stating, “CA will conduct a thorough review into the extremely frustrating circumstances that have resulted in the game being abandoned and a huge disappointment for fans and players.”

Should the match remain unreschedulable, the teams will divide the points, according to CA.

Scorchers’ head coach, Adam Voges, had apprehensions about the pitch even before the start of the game, acknowledging concerns for the batters’ safety.

“They (the batters) still copped a few in the stomach but yeah, just thankful that no one’s been seriously injured out of this,” Voges stated.

Expressing his disappointment over sharing points due to circumstances beyond their control, Voges added, “We came to win a game tonight, and to split the points through no wrongdoing of our own is frustrating.”

Local media heavily criticized the venue officials over the pitch’s condition, speculating that this incident might affect the city’s chances of hosting future sporting events.

“In the best scenario, the abandoned match is unprofessional,” wrote Dan Batten in the Geelong Advertiser. “At worst, it is a black mark against Geelong on the national sporting stage.”

Nic Maddinson (capt), Jon Wells, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Adam Zampa,Harry Dixon, Aaron Finch,Tom Rogers, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kane Richardson,, Will Sutherland, Mackenzie Harvey,oe Clarke, Quinton de Kock,Peter Siddle.

The West Indies’ captain, Hayley Matthews, emerged as a top choice for the Renegades, securing Pick 3 in the draft. Her impressive all-round skills and leadership qualities make her a valuable asset to the team.

Melbourne Renegades are set to commence their WBBL 9 campaign on October 20th, taking on the Brisbane Heat at the Junction Oval. With the inclusion of Matthews and Kaur in their lineup, the Renegades are poised for an exhilarating and competitive season ahead.

Molineux has had a rotten run with major injuries this year. She missed both Australia’s 50-over World Cup triumph in New Zealand and the Commonwealth games triumph in Birmingham after suffering a stress fracture in her foot. She was also dropped off the CA central contact list due to an injury.

“It’s disappointing for Sophie after she has worked so hard to come back from recent injuries and having such an outstanding start to the domestic season including scoring her first WNCL hundred,” Cricket Victoria’s head of female cricket Sharelle McMahon said.
“Sophie continues to set the example for the rest of the squad and we have no doubt she will demonstrate that in her rehabilitation and recovery from this setback. We’re right behind Sophie in her recovery, we’ll provide our full support in any way we can.”

Melbourne Renegades general manager, James Rosengarten, said. “Our thoughts are with Sophie, and we will do everything we can to support her now and through her recovery period. Sophie put in a power of work over the winter to return from her foot injury and has been a fantastic leader for our team this season. We know Sophie will bounce back from this latest setback and we’ll be there with her every step of the way.”

Molineux becomes the second Australia spinner in 12 months to rupture her ACL after her Australia, Victoria, and Renegades team-mate Georgia Wareham suffered the same fate last year.

Healy, who entered the fixture with just 53 runs at 10.60 this season, combined with Bates for a match-winning 151-run first-wicket stand, before both fell to Renegades captain Sophie Molineux. Bates was grassed twice before finally holing out to Shabnim Ismail on the deep midwicket boundary, before Molineux struck again two balls later, bowling Healy around her legs.

But Molineux’s double-strike failed to slow Sixers, who plundered 36 off the last three overs, through Ash Gardner, Erin Burns, and captain Ellyse Perry.”It was nice to spend some time out there,” Healy said. “I’ve been waiting seven years to have a really good partnership with Suzie Bates.

“The fact we could do that today and get our team off to a good start was pleasing. I’ve been praying to some sort of higher power for a bit of luck and I got it today.”Renegades’ unlikely pursuit of the imposing target started poorly when English spinner Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s No.1 T20 bowler, sent Hayley Matthews and Courtney Webb packing early.

When Lauren Cheatle enticed Molineux to Stella Campbell at mid-off, the hosts were reeling at 5 for 38, before a WBBL record sixth-wicket stand of 81 off 52 balls between Carly Leeson and Rhiann O’Donnell gave them an unlikely sniff. They were aided by a burst of shoddy bowling from Sixers after the drinks break, with Campbell sending down five straight wides to concede 22 off the 11th over and Perry carted for 24 off the 13th.

Perry made amends with a spectacular, high-leaping catch at cover to send O’Donnell packing, ending Renegades’ resistance.