Mohammad Nabi dreams of playing international cricket with his son
What's the story
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.
Future plans
Nabi's dream: To play alongside his son
Notably, 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.
Fatherly guidance
Nabi's advice to his son
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.
Tournament preparation
Afghanistan's debut in Champions Trophy
Afghanistan will be making their debut in the Champions Trophy, placed in Group B with England, Australia, and South Africa.
They earned this opportunity after finishing sixth at the 2023 ODI World Cup in a stellar performance.
Nabi has been gearing up for the tournament by playing in the Bangladesh Premier League and training with the national team.
Performance boost
Nabi's confidence boost from BPL victory
Nabi's recent victory in the Bangladesh Premier League has certainly boosted his confidence ahead of the Champions Trophy.
"Winning the BPL gave me more confidence, from a tough position in the final," he said.
He also highlighted his good form in both batting and bowling during the league matches, which he believes will benefit him in the upcoming tournament.
Information
Nabi's performance in BPL 2024/25
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.
Winner
Fortune Barishal retain Bangladesh Premier League title
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.