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Nabi’s 18-year-old son Hassan Eisakhil is a right-handed opening batter and has already played in the U-19 World Cup for Afghanistan last year.
Mohammad Nabi wants to play ODIs for Pakistan with his son Hassan Eisakhil. (Picture Credit: AP, Instagram/@chitwanrhinos.official)
Legendary Afghanistan cricketer and former captain Mohammad Nabi, who was set to retire from ODIs after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy 2025, has decided to take a U-turn from his retirement plan. According to the 40-year-old cricketer, who has 3618 runs and 172 wickets to his name in 170 50-over matches played so far, he will continue playing ODIs after the eight-team ICC event as well.
Nabi, while speaking to ICC ahead of the start of Champions Trophy 2025, has expressed his desire to play for Afghanistan at the highest level with his son Hassan Eisakhil. The 18-year-old right-handed opening batter has already represented the Afghanistani U-19 team in the 2024 U19 World Cup, and in 16 T20 matches played so far, he has 426 runs to his name.
“These might not be my last ODIs (the Champions Trophy), and I will probably play less ODIs and give chances to the youngsters to build experience. I’ve discussed with the senior players, and in the high-level games, maybe or maybe not, we’ll see. It will depend on my fitness,” Nabi was quoted as saying by ICC.
“It’s my dream (to play together for the country), and hopefully we can do it. He (Eisakhil) is doing very well. He is a hard worker, and I’m also pushing him to work,” he said.
“I want him to make his own goals. If you want to get to be a high-level cricketer, you have to work hard. It’s not enough to make 50 or 60, you have to score 100-plus. He’s listening and pushing all the time. When he can talk to me, I try to give him advice to give him confidence for the game,” Nabi added.
Nabi made his ODI debut for Afghanistan against Scotland in Benoni on April 19, 2009, and his last 50-over match was against Zimbabwe in Harare on December 21, 2024. Nabi will next take the field for the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side on Friday, February 21, during Afghanistan’s first match of the Champions Trophy 2025. Afghanistan will play its first-ever match in the Champions Trophy against South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi.
- Location :
Karachi, Pakistan
