Mohammad Nabi The Constant In Afghanistan's Highs and Lows - Cricket Winner

Starting back in 2008, Mohammad Nabi was playing in the 5th Division of the World Cricket League for Afghanistan. Grouped with a set of unknown Cricketing nations the rise started. He oversaw his side go through the fifth division, gain ODI status and was a part of both their first ever ODI and first ever T20 World Cup game.

With Nabi, the Afghanistan side grew as well, bringing in exciting talent. After years of hopelessness, Afghanistan was finally on the rise as a cricketing nation. With Mohammad Nabi, Afghanistan had a player who oversaw many of the sides first moments. He was with them in their first T20 World Cup.

He went on to assume captaincy and then led Afghanistan to their first ever full nation victory in a World Cup, beating Bangladesh in the 2014 T20 World Cup. His captaincy career though did not enjoy too many good moments. The overall results were pretty poor in the 2014 T20 World Cup and 2015 World Cup, their first ever fifty over World Cup. Regardless, Afghanistan did come out with a win for some silver-lining.

As a player though, Mohammad Nabi was starting to become more reliable with bat and ball. He still remains a player who can take the new-ball against right handers and get away without giving too many. He has some reliable shots in his armory, and can find the boundary without brute force, while he also has the power to clear the long rope when needed.

Afghanistan’s success went on to see more high points with Mohammad Nabi going on to playing their first ever Test in 2018. The Test did not go well with a two day loss against India, but the rise was evident. In T20Is too they managed a victory against eventual champions West Indies in the 2016 World Cup, which turned out to be a huge moment.

The big moments though kept coming. In 2018, Afghanistan clinched the World Cup qualifier tournament beating the West Indies twice. Their happiness was short lived though as they failed to register a win in the main draw, losing nine games out of nine and finishing last. They did come close though. Against India it was Mohammad Nabi who fought till the end chasing a meagre total. They were favorites until his wicket triggered a hat-trick sending Afghanistan to a crashing defeat.

Afghanistan Cricket though still remains happy. They had a lot of talent growing with Rashid Khan becoming a household name across the World. Mohammad Nabi too was a growing name in franchise Cricket.

Their next true high came in the 2023 World Cup. With a good spin attack, Afghanistan managed to beat England and Pakistan on their way to four wins in the tournament. They were on the cusp of a Semi-Final having Australia on the brink before a Glenn Maxwell special. All of that though seems past as Mohammad Nabi now stands with Afghanistan at their biggest moment. After years of turmoil, and with all the drama back home, Afghanistan now prepare for a World Cup Semi Final.

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They make it after a historic win against Australia and the turn around from the start of Nabi‘s career to now has been spectacular. With a few hours to go, Mohammad Nabi will be eager to challenge destiny as Afghanistan look to go a step ahead.