Back in 2009, a 24-year-old Mohammad Nabi was part of Afghanistan’s first-ever ODI playing XI. Now, at 40, the veteran all-rounder is preparing to represent his country in their maiden Champions Trophy campaign. Despite his age, Mohammad Nabi has no plans of calling it quits any time soon and remains eager to continue playing for the national team.
Afghanistan’s all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has revealed his wish to continue playing One Day Internationals (ODIs) after the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. This comes as a departure from his earlier announcement in November 2024, where he had said he would retire from ODIs after the tournament. The 40-year-old cricketer is now rethinking the decision and hopes to cut down on ODIs instead of retiring altogether.
Mohammad Nabi’s recent form and and his future plans
Veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has confirmed that the Champions Trophy 2025, starting February 19, will not be his swansong in one-day international cricket. However, the 40-year-old hinted at reducing his appearances for the senior national team after the eight-team tournament. Notably, Nabi has a unique dream-to play ODIs alongside his 18-year-old son, Hassan Eisakhil.
Mohammad Nabi, who made his debut in international cricket in 2009, has only gotten better with age. The former captain remains a key figure in Afghanistan’s squad, which is aiming for a semi-final berth in the Champions Trophy. Drawn in Group B alongside England, Australia, and South Africa, Afghanistan have assembled a power-packed squad, well-suited to subcontinent conditions.
Fortune Barishal successfully defended their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) title in a thrilling finale on February 7. The team completed the second-highest chase in a men’s T20 final, scoring 195 against Chittagong Kings. The victory was sealed with three wickets and three balls remaining, marking an exciting end to the season. Tamim Iqbal, Kyle Mayers, and Rishad Hossain played an instrumental role in this historic win.
Fresh off winning the Bangladesh Premier League with Fortune Barishal, Mohammad Nabi is a key member of Afghanistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad. The all-rounder believes the confidence from his recent outings add to his positive state of mind going into the upcoming tournament.
Mohammad Nabi scored 67 runs for Fortune Barishal in BPL 2024/25 from 11 matches at 16.75. With the ball, he claimed 8 wickets at an average of 27. His economy rate (ER) was 6.17.
The seasoned all-rounder had previously announced that he would retire from ODIs after the Champions Trophy. However, he has now hinted at extending his 50-over career.
Mohammad Nabi updates on future ahead of Afghanistan’s historic Champions Trophy 2025 campaign
Notably, Mohammad Nabi has shared his dream of playing international cricket with his son, Hassan Eisakhil. The 18-year-old is a promising batter who represented Afghanistan at the Under-19 World Cup in 2024.
“It’s my dream. Hopefully we can do it,” Nabi told the ICC about the possibility of playing alongside his son in future matches for their country.
Nabi’s son, Eisakhil, represented Afghanistan in the U19 World Cup 2024 and has already scored 426 runs in 16 T20I matches. Nabi is confident that his son will soon earn a spot in the senior national team.
“It’s my dream. Hopefully, we can do it. He is doing very well. He is a hard worker, and I am also pushing him to put in the effort,” Nabi told the ICC ahead of the Champions Trophy.
“I want him to set his own goals. If you want to become a high-level cricketer, you have to work hard. It’s not enough to score 50 or 60-you need to get 100-plus. He’s listening and pushing himself all the time. Whenever he talks to me, I try to give him advice and build his confidence,” he added.
Nabi is also actively pushing his son’s cricketing dreams, stressing on setting personal goals and working hard. He tells Eisakhil that scoring 50 or 60 runs isn’t enough; a high-level cricketer should aim for 100+ scores.
“He’s listening and pushing all the time,” Nabi said about his son’s dedication to improving his game.
Afghanistan are in Group B in the Champions Trophy along with England, Australia and South Africa. It is their first appearance in the tournament after finishing among the top-eight teams (sixth place) at the 2023 ODI World Cup. They were semi-finalists at the 2024 T20 World Cup too.
Mohammad Nabi on ODI Future for Afghanistan
Mohammad Nabi enters the Champions Trophy fresh off a successful campaign in the Bangladesh Premier League, where he helped Fortune Barishal clinch the title in February. He took 8 wickets in 11 matches and contributed with the bat whenever his team needed him.
With his ability to perform under pressure, Mohammad Nabi will be crucial in Afghanistan’s middle-order and a key part of their spin-bowling attack, led by Rashid Khan.
“These might not be my last ODIs. I will probably play fewer ODIs and give youngsters more opportunities to gain experience,” Nabi said.
“I’ve discussed it with the senior players. For high-level games, maybe I will play, maybe I won’t-we’ll see. It will depend on my fitness.”
If Mohammad Nabi reduces his involvement with the senior national team, he is expected to feature more in overseas T20 leagues. In IPL 2024, he played for Mumbai Indians, but he went unsold in the IPL mega auction for the upcoming season, starting March 22. While Mohammad Nabi brings in a wealth of experience, the Afghan lineup for the Champions Trophy is also equipped with fresh faces ready to make a mark at the big stage. Among them, 20-year-old spinner Nangeyalia Kharoti has earned a strong backing from Mohammad Nabi.
Afghanistan begin their Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa in Karachi on February 21 before travelling to Lahore to play England and Australia on February 26 and 28.