Afghanistan's Star All-Rounder Mohammad Nabi Announces ODI Retirement

In a shocking turn of events, Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has decided to hang up his one-day international (ODI) hat, bringing an end to an illustrious 16-year career. Despite initially proposing retirement after the last ODI World Cup, Nabi has now decided to pursue a lasting career in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), with his eyes firmly set on guiding Afghanistan to success in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Nabi, 39, has been a cornerstone of the Afghan cricket team's rise to prominence, breaking multiple records for his country. With 167 ODI matches under his belt, he is Afghanistan's most capped player in the format, and his 3600 runs, 17 fifties, 2 centuries, and 172 wickets make him their second-highest run-scorer and wicket-taker. The all-rounder, who has been a part of the squad since their ODI debut against Scotland in 2009, remains the country's most experienced player in one-day cricket.

Afghanistan's impressive showings against top-tier teams South Africa and Bangladesh last year have put them squarely in the radar of cricketing fans around the world. Nabi aims to capitalize on this momentum and achieve a major ICC title with his team. In a statement, he expressed his confidence in his teammates' abilities, crediting his own experience as vital in guiding them through key series. His intentions to guide the junior players and share his expertise will undoubtedly make his decision a significant blow, as he transitions from a full-time ODI role to concentrating on T20I cricket.

As Afghanistan looks to make its mark on the international stage, fans will eagerly await Nabi's next exploits in the T20I format. Despite his state on retiring one day internationals, Afghanistan remains confident that their star all-rounder will continue to make his mark, seeking an historic Champions Trophy title in the process.