Mohammad Nabi Plans ODI Farewell
Afghanistan's iconic allrounder, Mohammad Nabi, has announced his intention to retire from ODI cricket following the 2025 Champions Trophy. He shared his plans after Afghanistan secured a 2-1 series victory against Bangladesh in the UAE, where he was named Player of the Series.
Reflecting on his decision, Nabi revealed that he initially considered retiring after the previous World Cup. However, Afghanistan's qualification for their first-ever Champions Trophy inspired him to delay his farewell. Speaking to the host broadcaster after the final ODI, he mentioned feeling motivated to participate in the prestigious event.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is aware of Nabi's decision, and he has confirmed he will continue playing T20Is. In a conversation with the ACB media team, Nabi expressed his intention to bid farewell to the 50-over format after the Champions Trophy.
With 167 ODI appearances, Nabi holds the record for being Afghanistan’s most-capped player in the format. According to the ICC rankings, he is currently the world’s top ODI all-rounder. Since making his ODI debut in 2009 against Scotland, Nabi has been a cornerstone of Afghanistan’s cricketing journey. He ranks second on Afghanistan’s all-time run-scoring list with 3600 runs, including two centuries and 17 half-centuries, at an average of 27.48. As an off-spinner, his 172 wickets are the second-highest for the team, with an average of 32.47.
The 2025 Champions Trophy will mark a historic moment for Afghanistan, as it will be their debut in the tournament. They earned their spot by finishing sixth in the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India. The competition will feature eight teams: the top seven from the World Cup, along with host nation Pakistan.
Nabi has been instrumental in Afghanistan's cricketing rise, contributing significantly to their achievements across all formats. He captained Afghanistan in their maiden ODI World Cup in 2015 and also participated in the 2019 and 2023 editions. Although he retired from Test cricket in 2019, his legacy as a consistent performer and a driving force behind Afghanistan’s success remains unmatched.
13 November 2024, 12:15