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“We have made our nation proud” : Mohammad Nabi

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MenInG

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With a convincing victory over Namibia on Thursday in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers in UAE, Afghanistan have been confirmed as the first associate nation to qualify for the ICC T20 World Cup tournament to be held in Sri Lanka in September.

The qualification reflects another amazing chapter in the story of Afghan cricket as they seek to secure a place amongst the test playing nations.

PakPassion.net spoke to Afghanistan all-rounder, Mohammad Nabi who was an integral part of the team’s success. Nabi reflected on the true meaning of this achievement for him and his nation and the repercussions on the future of Afghan cricket.

As the performance of the national Cricket team is a source of great pride for Afghanistan, it was obvious that their second successive qualification for ICC’s showpiece twenty over event, would be greeted with great acclaim. Nabi confirmed that the only topic being discussed back home was related to Afghanistan’s qualification for the World Cup.

“This is the second time we have qualified for the ICC World T20 event and everyone at home is happy – we have made our nation proud and are very proud of our achievements! People have been calling me from UAE and in Afghanistan to tell me that they have been praying that we win – everyone is so happy that they have no words to express their joy.”

Nabi who has previously featured for the MCC and recently was a member of the Combined Associate XI that played England ahead of their series against Pakistan added “We will try and make our countrymen even happier by winning the final game of the T20 Qualifiers tomorrow and maintain our unbeaten record in this competition.”

The ICC World Twenty20 tournament is to be held in Sri Lanka this year between September 18 and October 7th with Afghanistan being placed in Group B alongside some strong opposition in the form of Australia and the West Indies. Mohammad Nabi understands the steep challenges that lie ahead but is clear about what Afghanistan wish to achieve in this tournament.

“Of course, we will try our best to win the tournament but realistically, we would like to win against Australia and West Indies – give them as tough a time as possible and Inshallah, qualify for the next round and then take it from there!”

The success of Bangladesh in the recently concluded Asia Cup has opened the eyes of the cricketing world to the abilities of the so called “weaker” teams and Mohammad Nabi is hopeful that their own performances will open the doors to loftier goals such as granting of a Test status to his country.

“We really hope that we are granted Test status as we are playing so well and also we have such a fanatical following in Afghanistan. We will try our best by playing good cricket in the coming months to show the world and ICC that we deserve Test status“

Afghanistan kick off their ICC World T20 campaign in Colombo against Australia in Group B on September 19, 2012 and will be looking to spring a surprise this time around having not been able to win any of their matches in the last T20 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean.
 
Congratulations to Afghanistan on a fantastic achievment. Best of luck of the main tournament. I hope they can beat a major team or two.
 
MenInG said:
With a convincing victory over Namibia on Thursday in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers in UAE, Afghanistan have been confirmed as the first associate nation to qualify for the ICC T20 World Cup tournament to be held in Sri Lanka in September.

The qualification reflects another amazing chapter in the story of Afghan cricket as they seek to secure a place amongst the test playing nations.

PakPassion.net spoke to Afghanistan all-rounder, Mohammad Nabi who was an integral part of the team’s success. Nabi reflected on the true meaning of this achievement for him and his nation and the repercussions on the future of Afghan cricket.

As the performance of the national Cricket team is a source of great pride for Afghanistan, it was obvious that their second successive qualification for ICC’s showpiece twenty over event, would be greeted with great acclaim. Nabi confirmed that the only topic being discussed back home was related to Afghanistan’s qualification for the World Cup.

“This is the second time we have qualified for the ICC World T20 event and everyone at home is happy – we have made our nation proud and are very proud of our achievements! People have been calling me from UAE and in Afghanistan to tell me that they have been praying that we win – everyone is so happy that they have no words to express their joy.”

Nabi who has previously featured for the MCC and recently was a member of the Combined Associate XI that played England ahead of their series against Pakistan added “We will try and make our countrymen even happier by winning the final game of the T20 Qualifiers tomorrow and maintain our unbeaten record in this competition.”

The ICC World Twenty20 tournament is to be held in Sri Lanka this year between September 18 and October 7th with Afghanistan being placed in Group B alongside some strong opposition in the form of Australia and the West Indies. Mohammad Nabi understands the steep challenges that lie ahead but is clear about what Afghanistan wish to achieve in this tournament.

“Of course, we will try our best to win the tournament but realistically, we would like to win against Australia and West Indies – give them as tough a time as possible and Inshallah, qualify for the next round and then take it from there!”

The success of Bangladesh in the recently concluded Asia Cup has opened the eyes of the cricketing world to the abilities of the so called “weaker” teams and Mohammad Nabi is hopeful that their own performances will open the doors to loftier goals such as granting of a Test status to his country.

“We really hope that we are granted Test status as we are playing so well and also we have such a fanatical following in Afghanistan. We will try our best by playing good cricket in the coming months to show the world and ICC that we deserve Test status“

Afghanistan kick off their ICC World T20 campaign in Colombo against Australia in Group B on September 19, 2012 and will be looking to spring a surprise this time around having not been able to win any of their matches in the last T20 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean.
Click to expand...

Afghanistan has done a great job by qualifying to the main event. It's really a pride for all Afghans. And could you make some necessary amends in this post, the placement of the 2 qualifiers are yet to be decided after tonight's final clash between Afghanistan and either Ireland or Namibia, whoever qualifies. The winner of this World T20 qualifier or as it's known as T20 Mini World Cup for Associates and Affiliates will join Australia and West Indies and the runner-up will join India and England.
 
Thanks for the interview once again. Inshalla the guys will do better in the t20 worldcup this time.
 
They should be thoroughly proud of themselves.

It's a fantastic achievment.
 
Announcement from Leicestershire

The club is delighted to announce the arrival of Afghanistan star all-rounder Mohammad Nabi as the club’s overseas player for the Vitality Blast competition in 2018.

Nabi will join Pakistan seamer Muhammad Abbas as our overseas players for the tournament.
 
Mohammad Nabi has been a consistent force for Afghanistan in their superb rise over the years, and on Thursday, 4 April, in the Indian Premier League 2019, in a rare start for Sunrisers Hyderabad, he showed off his all-round prowess again.

Nabi claimed 2/21 – sending down three Powerplay overs en route – and also hammered a nine-ball 17* to help beat Delhi Capitals at the Feroz Shah Kotla. It was just his seventh match for Sunrisers Hyderabad over three years, but he has been effective almost every game he has played for them. In the previous match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he took 4/11 and on Thursday, his efforts won him the Player of the Match award as Hyderabad went to the top of the table.

“We wait for the opportunity, and when we get it, we try to give 110%. That is our key to success,” he later said.

Nabi, 34, has been Afghanistan’s bedrock going back to the days they played WCL Division 5 cricket. Over the years, his role has changed though. He lends balance and, crucially, experience to the team, and that is something Rashid Khan, for one, makes the most of.

“When Rashid and I play together, either in the national team or any other team, that is when I have to help him a little bit in terms of what the batsman is thinking or what kind of fields to set,” said Nabi. “If you bowl a lot of dot balls, then the batsman will definitely make a mistake. If you only chase wickets, you won’t get any wickets, and you’ll get hit. Most of our discussions is about placing the correct fielding positions.

“If the batsmen do not get singles, then it is hard to score against Rashid since he is a different type of a spinner. He is quick, sharp, his googly is not usually readable, and hence, they take more time against him and that is when they make a mistake.”

Nabi has been a bedrock of the Afghanistan side going back to the days they played WCL 5 Nabi has been a bedrock of the Afghanistan side going back to the days they played WCL 5
So much that Nabi’s primary role with Afghanistan is to contain the opposition, and let Rashid and Mujeeb Ur Rahman do the talking. “Rashid and Mujeeb are our wicket-taking bowlers,” he said. “I generally bowl after the first 10 overs, and my role is to restrict the batsmen and to get dot balls so that it benefits my team.

“Rashid and Mujeeb, whoever is bowling, can then capitalise on that pressure at the other end. That is usually the plan when we play.”

That is perhaps indicative of the backseat finger spinners have taken in recent years, but Nabi won’t mind so long as he’s influencing victories.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1168990
 
New Delhi - Mohammad Nabi said Afghanistan's spinners would be a handful at the cricket World Cup after their experiences playing in England and in the cauldron of the Indian Premier League.

The 34-year-old batting all-rounder will form a potent spin attack with Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman at the World Cup, with all three currently contesting the high-pressure IPL.

Nabi and Khan also played for Leicestershire Foxes and Sussex Sharks respectively in England's T20 Blast last year, while Rahman has been signed by Middlesex for the coming season.

"Ours is a good combination because Rashid and Mujeeb are wicket-taking bowlers and I am more defensive, bowling a lot of dot balls," Nabi, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad, told AFP in an interview.

"It was a great experience for us and was of big help," he said of last year's T20 Blast. "Rashid and I bowled really well and he also batted well.

"We will quickly get adjusted to the conditions there hopefully," added Nabi, who will represent Kent in this year's 20-over contest.

While most of the Afghan team are at a training camp in South Africa, the spinners are all warming up for the 50-over World Cup in the IPL.

Both Nabi and Khan have starred in Hyderabad's campaign, and 18-year-old Rahman is playing for Kings XI Punjab.

But Nabi said the IPL, with its big crowds and tight games, was great preparation for the World Cup despite the differences between T20 and 50-over cricket.

"The IPL helps a lot," Nabi said. "If you play these kind of pressure games before the World Cup it will help a lot in the tournament against top opposition teams."

"It is a white-ball format after all. Yes it is a change of format but you can adjust easily to the 50-over game," he added.

Nabi's seven wickets from less than 16 overs, conceding a parsimonious 87 runs, has made him one of the top 10 bowlers in this year's IPL.

He will now hope to take that form into the World Cup, where Afghanistan face a daunting opener against defending champions Australia on June 1.

The strong middle-order batsman has been at the centre of Afghanistan's fairy tale rise, captaining the side at their first World Cup in 2015.

But while many Afghanistan players learned the game in refugee camps in Pakistan, Nabi hails from a wealthy Afghan family that lived in Pakistan during the Soviet invasion.

Since beating the odds to compete at the 2010 World T20 in England, Afghanistan have qualified for all major international tournaments and won their first Test against Ireland last month.

"It was a historic occasion," Nabi said of the victory.

Now expectations are building for their second World Cup, where Afghanistan's cricketers will hope to bring further joy to their war-torn nation.

"We will try our best at the World Cup and challenge every team that we play against," Nabi said.

"Inshallah (God-willing) in future we will challenge everybody in Test cricket."

https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/nabi-backs-afghan-spinners-to-shine-at-world-cup-20190411
 
Afghanistan Cricket has come a long way considering they have hardly been Associated with ICC for not even 2 decades. They have some promising young batsmen coming through the ranks and their spin bowling is as good as any other International team in fact a bit better than most of the teams however their pace bowling is something that needs a lot of improvement ..
 
I expect them to perform at their optimal in the world cup. They have got some out standing talent in their team and have all the makings to spring a surprise or two.
 
Doing well for his side - could get Afghanistan to a good defendable score
 
Mohammad Nabi, the Afghanistan all-rounder, who made his final appearance in Test cricket on Monday, 9 September said he was immensely proud of his team's progress in the longest format over the last few years.

Nabi featured in Afghanistan's first ever international appearance in each of the three formats, and after his final Test – a thrilling 224-run victory over Bangladesh in the dying stages of the fifth day in Chattogram – reflected on what went behind the team's meteoric rise over the decade.

"I had the dream to play Test cricket for Afghanistan," Nabi said. "We have worked really hard for that in a short time. Not last 13 to 14 years, we have achieved that target seven to eight years. We struggled a lot, we had to prepare mentally, combine a team combination. We have played the ICC Intercontinental Cup three times and we won twice and were the runners-up once.

"It's a very good result and because of that, the ICC gave us Test status. And I am very happy to be part of that generation of Afghanistan."

Last week, the 34-year-old announced his retirement from Test cricket, citing the need to open up opportunities for youngsters. He said the future was bright. "It's a historic win because in this format, we are new," Nabi said "We have played only three games against India, Ireland and Bangladesh and we won two games. It means we are good in this format, and it means that our domestic structure is strong.

"The youngsters, the way they are playing, the way they are adjusting to the conditions, it's really a brilliant team. Maybe it's a bright future as well, for the youngsters to play in this format.

"My plan is that the youngsters should be prepared for the next Tests as they are the future for us. That's why I have decided to leave Test matches, and focus on one-day internationals and T20Is."

Afghanistan's second Test win was propelled by a collective performance from the team, led by captain Rashid Khan, who picked up 11 wickets and scored a half-century in the first innings. Nabi was all praise for the side, but particularly stressed the contribution of the 17-year-old debutant Ibrahim Zadran, who scored a patient 87 in the second innings to extend Afghanistan's lead.

"The preparation for the Test match was really good," said Nabi. "That's why the boys have performed both in batting and bowling departments.

"We put up good totals in both the innings. I will talk especially about the young guy Ibrahim. Recently he played here with the A team against Bangladesh A, and he performed really well. It proved that he has the ability, he has talent to play in Test cricket."

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1339912
 
84 off 54 against Bangldesh in ongoing Triseries
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dear friends,<br>Alhamdulillah I am all good, a news disseminated by some media outlets about my demise is FAKE. Thank you.</p>— Mohammad Nabi (@MohammadNabi007) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadNabi007/status/1180173157925314561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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For a team that have marquee names like David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson and Rashid Khan, Sunrisers Hyderabad could turn to an unassuming Afghan off-break bowler named Mohammad Nabi in their attempt to leave opponents in a spin when the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off in these shores on September 19.

Nabi, the tall 35-year-old bowler whose ability to hit the ball hard in the lower middle order has made him a vital cog in the Afghanistan team, rarely receives the applause his younger countryman Rashid Khan so regularly enjoys on the biggest of stages.

But Nabi remains an inspiring figure in Afghanistan cricket - one who could turn the fortunes of his team with one inspired spell or a compelling counter-attack with the bat.

And it is that all-round talent the Sunrisers Hyderabad would hope to unleash on their opponents in the world's greatest T20 league.

Having played in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Nabi arrived in Dubai with his Sunrisers teammate Rashid.

While Rashid had a decent tournament in the CPL for his team Barbados Tridents, it was Nabi's all-round brilliance (156 runs and 12 wickets) that sent St Lucia Zouks to the final where they lost to Trinbago Knight Riders by eight wickets.

Now the David Warner-led Sunrisers would want Nabi to replicate the CPL form in the IPL.

"I am really excited to be back at the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Really happy to be back after a long time. Hope to meet everyone soon in the team," Nabi said in a video posted by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their official Twitter handle.

But Nabi could only begin his training session with the Sunrisers after completing the six-day quarantine.

"You know we have come from the CPL. It was a tough tournament. We had back-to-back games. Now we will sleep for three days and after that we will start bit of training and activate my body again to be ready for the upcoming games," he said.

"In the CPL, there was no crowd. We didn't really enjoy it without crowd, the games I mean. Let's see how we can enjoy here in the IPL."

Even without the crowds, Nabi, who claimed eight wickets for the Sunrisers last year, could make a big impact in the IPL, according to former India opener Gautam Gambhir.

"He is the most underrated player in T20 cricket. You talk about Kieron Pollard, AB de Villiers, Rashid Khan, or David Warner but if you see his contribution, he is a brilliant fielder, gives you four overs with the ball, bowls in the first 6 overs, bats at No.5 or No.6, and can play the big shots," said Gambhir during the Cricket Connected show in Star Sports.

Gambhir, who won two IPL titles as the Kolkata Knight Riders captain in 2012 and 2014, said Nabi would have become a superstar like the West Indies T20 specialist Andre Russell if he wasn't from Afghanistan.

"We talk about Andre Russell as a quality all-rounder but Mohammad Nabi probably may not be in that category but he is not that far behind. Because he comes from Afghanistan, who do not play that much cricket, so people do not rate him that much," Gambhir said.

At 35, it looks unlikely that Nabi, who started his cricketing journey at the age of 10 during his life as an Afghan refugee in Peshawar, Pakistan, would ever get a chance to become a global star.

But a fine display in the UAE could see him gallop into IPL history.

After all, unsung heroes like Nabi scripted the greatest underdog victory in the IPL when the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008.

https://m.khaleejtimes.com/sports/ipl-2020/ipl-2020-unsung-hero-nabi-poised-to-inspire-sunrisers
 
Last edited:
Most man of the match awards in T20Is :

Mohammad Nabi - 13
Virat Kohli - 12
Shahid Afridi - 11
 
Got a bit emotional during the anthems today:

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.322%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/a6thif" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi insisted his side’s morale is still high despite suffering their first Super 12s defeat to Pakistan in Dubai.

Four sixes from Asif Ali helped Pakistan make it a hat-trick of victories at the ICC Men’s World T20 2021 as they chased 148 to win by five wickets.

Nabi, 35 off 32 balls, had shared a partnership of 75 with Gulbadin Naib, 35 off 25 balls, to give his spinners something to bowl at but faced with Asif’s brutal hitting it proved to not be enough.

Nabi, 36, said: “We have only played two games and we won one [against Scotland] and today was a close game, at the end Pakistan won the game.

“There’s a lot of positive things in this game, we will take the positive things and there’s three more games inshallah we will do well, the team morale is high.

“Everybody came full of confidence that we could win the game and we tried our best, we gave 120 percent in the game.

“But it’s part of the game, winning and losing, and Pakistan finished the game well at the end. Our boys played really well, we put a decent total on the board and we restricted them and it was very tight until the 18th/19th over. In the end Pakistan won the game and that’s part of cricket.”

Many raised their eyebrows when Nabi went against the trend of electing to bowl first at the Dubai International Stadium with dew in play in the evening games.

But the veteran all-rounder defended his decision to bat, despite slipping to 76 for six, suggesting his side’s final total of 147 for six was defendable.

He added: “I think batting first as a decision was not that bad. But we played aggressively at the start because the ball held a little on the pitch.

“But the total on the board 148/149 runs is enough on these kinds of pitches.

“I think both batting and bowling can improve but the way our spinners are bowling we can defend 150 runs and be good enough in these conditions.”

Frontline leg-spinner Rashid Khan took two for 26, becoming the fastest man to take 100 T20 international wickets in the process as well as claiming the crucial scalp of Pakistan captain Babar Azam for 51.

However, Nabi only chose to introduce him after ten overs had passed, with some observers feeling he could have halted the opposition’s early progress with Pakistan making it to 72 for one at the halfway stage.

The skipper again defended his decision-making, saying: “I think it’s not too late after ten overs [to bowl Rashid].

“He bowled really well and he restricted the batters quite well, that’s why they needed 24 runs from 12 balls [to win at the end].”

Player of the match Asif revealed he planned his audacious finish to the game an over early because of the small boundary.

He said: “The boundary was small from this end so I told my partner I'd go for it this over.

“Thank God we pulled it off. I look at the situation and what it demands and which bowler has overs remaining, and the field setting.

“I told Shoaib [Malik] that Naveen-ul-Haq was bowling well, and from this end I could even score 25 in an over. So, I planned for it."
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">4373 runs and 213 wickets in 216 international matches &#55356;&#57295;<br><br>A happy birthday to Afghanistan's <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadNabi007?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MohammadNabi007</a> &#55356;&#57218; <a href="https://t.co/GpRwNcYp8C">pic.twitter.com/GpRwNcYp8C</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1477225611999563776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Didn't make anybody proud with the way Afghanistan played against India in the WC. Our buddy Nabi bowled just one over in that game.

It has left an unbearable and unforgettable taste.
 
Yh it was pretty disappointing that performance

Against pakistan it felt they were fighting every ball for their life but against india they seemed to be going through the motions
 
Mohammad Nabi - last eight T20I innings:

5(6)
9(9)
6(5)
5(5)
0(1)
8(9)
1(4)
0(1)
 
In the all-rounders' charts, Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi is the new No.1, surpassing Shakib Al Hasan. Hardik Pandya has also broken into the top four, after his impressive showings in the series against Australia. Pandya notched up scores of nine and 25* in the last two T20Is against Australia, while also chipping in with some handy overs. He is now joint on the fourth spot along with Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga.
 
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