Afghanistan’s iconic allrounder Mohammad Nabi has announced his plan to retire from ODI cricket after the 2025 Champions Trophy. The 39-year-old veteran, Afghanistan’s most capped ODI player, shared this decision after winning the Player-of-the-Series award in Afghanistan’s recent 2-1 victory over Bangladesh in the UAE.
Nabi’s Thoughts on Retirement
Nabi revealed his retirement plans to the host broadcaster, saying: “Since the last World Cup, I had retirement on my mind. But when Afghanistan qualified for the Champions Trophy, I felt it would be great to play one last big tournament.”
He has already informed the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) of his decision and will continue to represent Afghanistan in T20 internationals. Speaking to the ACB’s media team, he confirmed, “After the Champions Trophy, I will say goodbye to ODIs.”
Mohammad Nabi’s Impressive ODI Career
With 167 ODI matches under his belt, Mohammad Nabi is Afghanistan’s most experienced player in the format. He is currently ranked as the No. 1 ODI allrounder by the ICC. Since Afghanistan’s ODI debut against Scotland in 2009, Nabi has been a cornerstone of the team, contributing both with the bat and ball.
Key Stats:
- Matches: 167 ODIs
- Runs: 3,600 (Second-highest for Afghanistan)
- Batting: 17 half-centuries, 2 centuries, with an average of 27.48
- Bowling: 172 wickets at an average of 32.47 (Second-highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan)
Champions Trophy 2025 – A Special Farewell
The 2025 Champions Trophy will be Afghanistan’s first appearance in this prestigious event. They secured a spot by finishing sixth in the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India. The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams—the top seven from the ODI World Cup plus host nation Pakistan.
A Glorious Career Shaping Afghanistan’s Rise
Nabi has played a crucial role in Afghanistan’s cricket journey, from earning ODI status to playing in the World Cups and achieving Test recognition. He captained Afghanistan in their debut ODI World Cup in 2015 and also represented his country in the 2019 and 2023 editions. While Nabi retired from Test cricket in 2019, his presence in ODIs and T20Is has been vital to Afghanistan’s success and growth on the world stage.
Mohammad Nabi’s retirement from ODIs will mark the end of an era in Afghan cricket. Fans will look forward to his final appearance in the 2025 Champions Trophy, celebrating a career that has inspired a nation and brought Afghanistan cricket to new heights.
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