Tue Nov 12 15:52:18 UTC 2024: ## Afghanistan’s Nabi to Retire from ODI Cricket After 2025 Champions Trophy

**Sharjah, UAE:** Afghanistan’s veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has announced his intention to retire from One Day International (ODI) cricket after the conclusion of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The 39-year-old, who has been a mainstay in the Afghan side since his debut in 2009, revealed his plans following Afghanistan’s 2-1 series win over Bangladesh in Sharjah.

Nabi, who was named Player of the Series for his exceptional all-round performances, stated that he had initially planned to retire after the last World Cup but decided to continue playing after Afghanistan qualified for the Champions Trophy. “In my mind, from the last World Cup, I was retired, but then we qualified for the Champions Trophy, and I felt if I could play that, it would be great…We will see, but no, I will not play for long. God willing, after the Champions Trophy, we will say goodbye to the ODIs,” he told the host broadcaster.

Nabi has been instrumental in Afghanistan’s rise to prominence in international cricket, witnessing the team progress from victories over lesser-known sides to taking on and defeating established Test-playing nations like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, England, Australia, New Zealand, and West Indies.

Despite his age, Nabi remains a vital asset to the Afghan team, topping the run charts in the recent series against Bangladesh with 135 runs and contributing with two wickets across three ODIs. His overall ODI career statistics are impressive: 3,600 runs in 167 matches at an average of 27.48 and a strike rate of 86.99, making him Afghanistan’s second-highest run-getter in the format. His 172 wickets at an average of 32.47 make him the second-highest wicket-taker for the country as well.

The upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will mark Afghanistan’s maiden appearance in the tournament, making Nabi’s final ODI appearances even more significant.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has been informed of Nabi’s decision, and the all-rounder will continue playing T20 Internationals.

Read More