Mohammad Nabi resigns as captain following heart-breaking loss to Australia

[MenInG]

Afghanistan have named their 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, which begins in Australia on 16 October.

Mohammad Nabi, who led Afghanistan in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022, takes up the captaincy reins again.

Samiullah Shinwari, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat and Noor Ahmad, all of whom were a part of the Asia Cup squad, miss out.

Meanwhile, middle-order batter Darwish Rasooli, all-rounder Qais Ahmad and the right-arm quick Salim Safi have been added to the list.

22-year-old Rasooli, who made his international debut earlier this year, makes the cut after recovering from a finger injury and churning out impressive performances in the Shpageeza Cricket League 2022.

Qais Ahmed returns to the squad, last having played a T20I in March 2022 against Bangladesh, while 20-year-old Safi has secured his maiden international call-up.

Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah, and Gulbadin Naib have been named as travelling reserves, while the rest of the squad is made up of familiar names.

"The Asia Cup was a very good opportunity for the team to buildup things nicely for the much-important global event in Australia," Chief selector Noor Malikzai said.

"Fortunately, Darwish Rasooli has recovered from injury (broken finger) and we are happy to have him available for the WT20, he has demonstrated good glimpses of him in the previously held Shpageeza Cricket League 2022 and offers an additional batting option to our middle order.

"Since the Australian conditions offer further support for the fast bowlers, so we have added Salim Safi, the tall right-arm quick to add further impetus to our bowling department. Overall we have picked our best available players for the event and we are hopeful of them to do well and better represent the country in the mega event."

Afghanistan belong to Group 1 in the T20 World Cup and begin their campaign on 22 October against England in Perth. They had a lukewarm campaign last season, having finished fourth in Group 2 with two wins in five matches.

T20 World Cup Squad: Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Qais Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Salim Safi, Usman Ghani

Reserves: Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib

Afghanistan's schedule:

22 October – Afghanistan v England, Perth
26 October – Afghanistan v New Zealand, Melbourne
28 October – Afghanistan v TBA, Melbourne
01 November – Afghanistan v TBA, Brisbane
04 November – Afghanistan v Australia, Adelaide

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2790776

 

[MenInG]

Kabul, 15 September 2022: Afghanistan Cricket Board today announced its 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, which will be played from 16th October to 13th November in Australia.

From the 17 players who were part of the Afghanistan Squad for the recently held ACC Men's Asia Cup 2022, Samiullah Shinwari, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat and Noor Ahmad have missed out whereas the middle-order batter Darwish Rasooli, the leg-spinning allrounder Qais Ahmad and the right-arm quick Salim Safi have made it to the 15-member cut. In addition, Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah and Gulbadin Naib have been added to the squad as reserves.

Afghanistan Squad for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 – Mohammad Nabi (C), Najibullah Zadran (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujib ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Qais Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Salim Safi and Usman Ghani. Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah and Gulbadin Naib are the four players, who are part of the team as reserves.

Chief selector Noor Malikzai: “The Asia Cup was a very good opportunity for the team to buildup things nicely for the much-important global event in Australia. Fortunately, Darwish Rasooli has recovered from injury (broken finger) and we are happy to have him available for the WT20, he has demonstrated good glimpses of him in the previously held Shpageeza Cricket League 2022 and offers an additional batting option to our middle order. Since the Australian conditions offer further support for the fast bowlers, so we have added Salim Safi, the tall right-arm quick to add further impetus to our bowling department. Overall we have picked our best available players for the event and we are hopeful of them to do well and better represent the country in the mega event.”

ACB Chairman Mr. Mirwais Ashraf: "The selection committee has named a strong squad for the WT20. The combination looks good which includes players from every category. I am sure that they will do well in the event and will make the nation proud.”

https://cricket.af/post/acb-name-squad-for-icc-mens-ttwenty-world-cup

 

[Rana]

Ibrahim Zadran will eventually become their captain

He is a bit slow for my liking but he seems like an intelligent player and a good fielder

 

[gazza619]

No comments for this shameless captain and team.

 

[MenInG]

AFGHANISTAN LOOKING TO GO ONE BETTER AT THIS YEAR’S MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP

Afghanistan continue to go from strength to strength in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but have not yet shattered the glass ceiling and secured a semi-final spot.

The destination for this year’s tournament – Australia – may be the biggest hurdle for Jonathan Trott’s squad to overcome, with a bowling attack better suited to spinning pitches and home conditions.

The former England star’s side secured an automatic spot in the Super 12 by virtue of their seventh-place finish at the 2021 World Cup – their best finish in the tournament to date.

2022 Prospects

Afghanistan are no strangers to the Super 12 stage and will be looking to bridge the gap to the world’s best. Having beaten the two lowest-ranked sides in their group at the last World Cup, they will be hopeful of a major scalp in 2022.

If they are to achieve a best ever Super 12 finish, they must beat one of Australia, England or New Zealand, though they are yet to record a single victory against one of the world’s current top six.

The captaincy of 37-year-old Mohammad Nabi could be key given his experience of playing major T20 tournaments across the globe.

He will again be at the forefront of a spin-heavy attack but whether that they can get the requisite turn to trouble the world’s best attacks in Australia remains to be seen.

T20 World Cup History

Afghanistan have been an ever-improving force since their first World Cup appearance in 2010.

Their first ever T20I fixture came in February of that year against Ireland, and just a few months later they were thrust into a World Cup group alongside heavyweights India and South Africa.

It was not until their third tournament that they tasted victory for the first time, chasing down Hong Kong’s 153 off just 18 overs, though it was not enough to seem them through to the knockout stage.

That status finally arrived in 2016, when a hat-trick of group stage victories saw them through to the Super 10, where they were pulled off a thrilling six-run victory over eventual champions West Indies in the pair’s first ever international meeting.

Now household names of T20 cricket, the ever-present Nabi and Rashid Khan finished with identical figures of two for 26 as Daren Sammy and co were left red-faced.

Last year, they qualified automatically for the knockout phase for the first time in their history, by virtue of their impressive results at the previous tournament.

Comfortable wins were secured against Scotland and Namibia and the ambition must now be to rediscover the magic of 2016 and overcome one of cricket’s established forces.

Current Form

Results ahead of the World Cup have swung one way and another since Afghanistan’s preparations ramped up in June.

They got off to a flying start with a routine 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe but were swiftly brought back down to earth after a 3-2 defeat in Ireland.

Results have continued to fluctuate since then but the highlight was undoubtedly an eight-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the 2022 Asia Cup, with the 2014 T20 champions bowled out for 105 in a memorable victory in Dubai.

Best Batters

Captain Nabi and vice-captain Najibullah Zadran certainly led by example at last year’s World Cup in UAE and Oman.

Zadran top-scored for his country with 172 throughout the tournament and a high score of 73, while Nabi’s average of 63.50 was streets ahead of his nearest teammate.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz promised much ahead of the last World Cup but the 20-year-old struggled to make a lasting impression.

He has since hit two ODI hundreds – against the Netherlands and Bangladesh – and will hope that this is the tournament which sees him deliver on his potential.

Best Bowlers

The conditions down under may not be best suited to Afghanistan, who so often rely on the star trio of Nabi, Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman to spin them to victory.

So, the addition of right-arm quick Saleem Safi is an astute one and he will be expected to support Naveen-ul-Haq, who is the only out-and-out quick to retain his place from the last World Cup, with Karim Janat and Gulbadin Naib omitted from the 15-man squad.

ICC

 

[daytrader]

51 from 37 for the captain. Led the resurgence from the front

 

[MenInG]

Shaheen Afridi was all fired up in Pakistan's warm-up match against Afghanistan on Wednesday. Though the match had to be abandoned due to rain in Brisbane, Shaheen scalped the wickets of Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai. Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Gurbaz was hit on the left foot by Shaheen's inswinging yorker. He was given some medical attention and was carried off the pitch. Gurbaz was later seen wearing a protective boot on his left foot. He was sent to hospitals to get his scans done.

He is expected to feature in his side's ICC T20 World Cup campaign opener against England after gaining clearance after scans. Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) later said in a statement that the player has been cleared of a serious injury.

"Team doctor stated that the results are clear with no bone fracture. He will be assessed in the next two days and is expected to be available for our England fixture on Saturday," ACB was quoted as saying by a media source.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Nabi is a senior pro now. Afg need to look past him.

Rashid or Gurbaz should lead their T20 squad.

 

[Saj]

Tough first match for them.

A heavy defeat to England first up could take the wind out of their sails and defale them.

 

[Major]

backing the afghanis. Great team, great bunch of guys.

i know this wont sit well with some Pakistanis

 

[shamaan]

They definitely won't make the semi final.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&#55356;&#57241; "There &#55349;&#56940;&#55349;&#56926;&#55349;&#56929;&#55349;&#56929; be pressure, there &#55349;&#56940;&#55349;&#56926;&#55349;&#56929;&#55349;&#56929; be expectations"<br><br>Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan looks ahead to Saturday's T20 World Cup match with England &#55356;&#57295; <a href="https://t.co/i7UOeMA090">pic.twitter.com/i7UOeMA090</a></p>— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyCricket/status/1583446935968833539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Afghanistan have been forced into a change to their squad at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup with the Asian nation losing hard-hitting opener Hazratullah Zazai to injury.

Zazai, who holds the record for the second-highest score in the history of men’s T20I cricket for his brilliant 162* against Ireland in Dehradun in 2019, has been battling an abdominal and kidney concern and has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.

His place in Afghanistan's 15-player squad has been taken by experienced batter Gulbadin Naib, with the veteran already in Australia and a chance to play his first T20I in almost a year later this tournament.

Afghanistan take on Sri Lanka in Brisbane on Tuesday and need a win there and from their final game of the tournament against Australia in Adelaide on Friday to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Mohammad Nabi's side are the only team yet to register a victory in Australia but have been a shade unlucky given they have featured in two matches that have been abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain.

Zazai managed just seven runs against England during the only match Afghanistan have been able to complete at the T20 World Cup, with the left-hander dismissed courtesy of a brilliant catch from Liam Livingstone.

Afghanistan squad: Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Qais Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Salim Safi, Gulbadin Naib, Usman Ghani. Standby Players: Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah.

ICC

 

[Cover Drive Six]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/oSpzXxMFGB">pic.twitter.com/oSpzXxMFGB</a></p>— Mohammad Nabi (@MohammadNabi007) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadNabi007/status/1588522398604984320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/oSpzXxMFGB">pic.twitter.com/oSpzXxMFGB</a></p>— Mohammad Nabi (@MohammadNabi007) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadNabi007/status/1588522398604984320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mohammad Nabi announced his decision to resign as Afghanistan's captain following the loss to Australia in the T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi announced his decision to resign as the captain of the national team following their four-run loss to Australia in Adelaide in the Super 12 fixture of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.

"Our T20 World Cup journey came to an end, with a result that not we nor our supporters were expecting. We are as frustrated as you are with the outcome of matches," Nabi said in his tweet.

Nabi captained the team in 35 T20Is - first leading them in 2013 - with Afghanistan winning 16 of those matches. The skipper explained in his tweet that the "selection committee and I were not on the same page which had implications on the team balance".

He, however, clarified that he would continue as a player and will be available "when the management and team needs" him. The veteran Afghanistan all-rounder led the team to the Super 12 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup, where rain hampered Afghanistan's chances against New Zealand and Ireland.

They ended the Super 12 stage with no wins in three completed games, almost pulling off a heist against Australia on Friday, eventually losing by just four runs after a spectacular cameo from Rashid Khan.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Can you blame him for rain-affected matches?

 

[gazza619]

Mohammad Nabi announced his decision to resign as Afghanistan's captain following the loss to Australia in the T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi announced his decision to resign as the captain of the national team following their four-run loss to Australia in Adelaide in the Super 12 fixture of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.

"Our T20 World Cup journey came to an end, with a result that not we nor our supporters were expecting. We are as frustrated as you are with the outcome of matches," Nabi said in his tweet.

Nabi captained the team in 35 T20Is - first leading them in 2013 - with Afghanistan winning 16 of those matches. The skipper explained in his tweet that the "selection committee and I were not on the same page which had implications on the team balance".

He, however, clarified that he would continue as a player and will be available "when the management and team needs" him. The veteran Afghanistan all-rounder led the team to the Super 12 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup, where rain hampered Afghanistan's chances against New Zealand and Ireland.

They ended the Super 12 stage with no wins in three completed games, almost pulling off a heist against Australia on Friday, eventually losing by just four runs after a spectacular cameo from Rashid Khan.

What a drama queen!!! As if they were expecting to win the cup.

 

[Rana]

Fair enough

No point hanging on. Let someone else have a chance to lead

 

[Sherazkhalid]

backing the afghanis. Great team, great bunch of guys.

i know this wont sit well with some Pakistanis

Well it isn't a one way street, show love get love. Only BD can show us eyes and we gotta take that, rest all the neighbors got to show respect to get respect.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Great servant. Farewell President

 

[Savak]

Why did he not resign previously then? There is no point doing this now after the fact and then blaming everyone else.

 

[Zaz]

Why did he not resign previously then? There is no point doing this now after the fact and then blaming everyone else.

Seems like a drama queen

Like u said why not resign previously if things hadnt been right for a while and only now that they are out

Typical south asian drama

 

[sweep_shot]

Loss against Australia isn't too bad.

Aussies are very strong at home. Surprised to see him resigning over this.