In November, Nabi announced he might retire from ODIs after the Champions Trophy but is reconsidering, citing fitness and a desire to mentor younger players. His 18-year-old son, Eisakhil, a promising batter for Afghanistan, inspired Nabi to envision playing together for their country. Afghanistan, competing in the Champions Trophy after a successful ODI World Cup, has prepared well, with Nabi gaining confidence from winning the Bangladesh Premier League. The team, with one change to its squad, will face South Africa in Karachi on February 21, followed by matches against England and Australia.
“These might not be my final ODIs; I might reduce my participation in ODIs and provide opportunities for younger players to gain experience,” Nabi shared with the ICC. “I’ve had discussions with senior players and regarding high-stakes matches, it remains uncertain; we will see based on my fitness.”
Nabi’s 18-year-old son, Eisakhil, is a batter who represented Afghanistan in the Under-19 World Cup in 2024, and he is optimistic about the possibility of playing together for their country soon. “It’s a dream of mine. I hope we can achieve it. He is performing exceptionally well … he is dedicated, and I am encouraging him to continue working hard.”
“I want him to set his own aspirations; to become a top-level cricketer, one must work diligently. It’s not sufficient to score 50 or 60 runs; you need to aim for 100 and beyond. He’s attentive and consistently striving to improve. Whenever he seeks my advice, I do my best to bolster his confidence for the game.”
“The preparation for the Champions Trophy has been positive,” Nabi remarked. “I’ve kept myself occupied playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, where I emerged as a champion. I completed three training sessions with the national team in Abu Dhabi, so I’m in excellent condition.”
“Winning the BPL has boosted my confidence, especially coming from a challenging position in the final. We performed well throughout the tournament, and my overall performance—both bowling and batting—contributed significantly to the team’s success in several matches.”
Afghanistan will kick off their Champions Trophy journey against South Africa in Karachi on February 21, followed by matches against England and Australia in Lahore on February 26 and 28.