On Friday, November 4, Mohammad Nabi resigned as captain of the Afghanistan Twenty20 International squad. The Afghan team lost all three of its Super 12 matches in the T20 World Cup 2022 to England, Australia, and Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan almost defeated Australia at the Adelaide Oval because of an undefeated performance from Rashid Khan (48 runs off 23 balls), but they fell short by four runs. After the game against Australia, Nabi issued a statement explaining why he was resigning as captain of the Afghan team.
However, Nabi declared that he will continue wearing the national colours in the limited-overs format. Nabi’s second term as Afghanistan captain began from the previous edition of the T20 World Cup in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Nabi served as the captain of the team from 2013 until 2015. With him at the helm, Afghanistan triumphed in 13 one-day internationals and 16 Twenty20s. The seasoned captain scored 601 runs in 28 ODIs and 422 runs in 35 T20Is throughout his career. As captain of the Afghan national team, Nabi also took 47 wickets.
For Australia’s last group encounter in the Twenty20 World Cup, the goal was simple but lofty: mug Afghanistan so thoroughly in Adelaide that Australia finishes with a higher net run rate than England. In the end, they almost escaped with a victory, as a late Rashid Khan attack all but hijacked the chase of 168 for eight in the last over, falling four runs short on 164 for seven.
Australia’s destiny is now in other hands, with their only road to the semi-finals needing a Sri Lanka victory against England on Saturday.
In contrast to their 2015 50-over World Cup loss to Australia, today’s Afghanistan squad is far more resilient. Taliban extremists took over the nation, scuttling the fledgling women’s programme and forcing the males to flee as a team. Somehow these players have maintained their heads, qualifying straight for this event in the top eight, and cost a chance to show their stuff at the MCG with two washouts.
There is no greater testament to their fortitude than Rashid staggering off Adelaide Oval on Tuesday with a severely injured knee, then bowling superbly and hitting like a beast come Friday night.
Twitter Reacts:
good news for Rashid
— CricCrazy 🇵🇰 (@CricCrazy__) November 4, 2022
Rashid Khan is perfect for T20I captaincy
— Nishant (@nishantfp) November 4, 2022
Gurbaz ko bana do Captain 💗
— ❖Mʀ᭄Ꮶᴀʀᴀɴ࿐ (@KaranSiddh) November 4, 2022
RASHID KHAN ERA😌🥵
— aadiiiiii💫 (@Aadi_16_) November 4, 2022
Good decision
— Girlsiyapa69 (@girlsiyapa69) November 4, 2022
He should get retired too
— PrAvEeN ReDdY (@naakuteliyadhu) November 4, 2022
Good call. Rashid shld be the captain now.
— Harman 🇮🇳 (@Harman35673056) November 4, 2022
Yes Rashid turn to Lead afg
— Vikram Zaveri (@VikramZaveri3) November 4, 2022
Asgar afghan was better captain and batsman don't know why he retired
— Invisible Man (@Invisible2120) November 4, 2022
Rashid Khan to be next captain.
— Player of the Decade 👑 (@vk18_GOAT) November 4, 2022
