Sydney Thunder SACK Afghan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi over an off-field incident as the team ‘offers support to all affected parties’
A conduct complaint has led Sydney Thunder to terminate Afghan import Fazalhaq Farooqi’s Big Bash League contract.
The complaint relates to an incident that occurred last Thursday and led to a hearing from Cricket Australia’s Conduct Commissioner.
Four games into the 2022-23 season, the Thunder opted to immediately cut ties with Farooqi after the hearing and in a statement, said ‘all affected parties have been offered support’.
Sydney Thunder have terminated the contract of Afghan import Fazalhaq Farooqi
In a separate statement, Cricket Australia said it supported the decision to terminate Farooqi.
‘The behaviors exhibited by Fazalhaq Farooqi are outside of our values and it has been determined that his contract will be terminated,’ Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon said.
‘Our focus now is on providing the necessary support to those affected by this incident.’
Cricket NSW declined to elaborate on the nature of the conduct complaint when contacted by the AAP.
The fast bowler joined Sydney Thunder for this year’s Big Bash League
The Afghan fast bowler took five wickets in four games for Sydney Thunder
The Thunder have yet to determine whether they will replace Farooqi, who himself replaced platinum draft selection David Willey, the English left-arm quick who withdrew before the start of the tournament.
The latest incident continues a difficult start to the summer for the Thunder, who are second to last on the ladder with just one win from four games.
The side were bowled out for the lowest total in professional men’s T20 cricket – 15 runs – in their second game of the tournament by the Adelaide Strikers.
In the next game, Thunder lost captain Jason Sangha to a collarbone injury that could end his BBL campaign and was also missing highly-rated spinner Tanveer Sangha to a back injury.
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