Following Afghanistan’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup’s Super 12, Mohammad Nabi has chosen to step down as the team’s captain. The announcement came after Afghanistan failed to secure a victory in any of their tournament matches. Expressing his frustration, Nabi stated in a tweet, “Our T20 World Cup journey came to an end, with a result that neither we nor our supporters were expecting.”
Nabi went on to explain in his tweet that there were disagreements between the selection committee and himself, impacting the team’s balance. Despite stepping down from the captaincy, Nabi made it clear that he intends to continue as a player and will be available when the team and management require his services.
Having led the team in 35 T20Is since 2013, Nabi has seen Afghanistan win 16 of those matches under his captaincy. Notably, he took over as captain just days before the 2021 T20 World Cup after star spinner Rashid Khan resigned from the position, protesting the selection of the national squad without his input.
Rashid, in his post on Twitter, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of consultation regarding the team selection for the T20 World Cup. Stating his right to be part of the selection process, Rashid declared his immediate resignation as captain, emphasizing that he was not approached for consent by the selection committee and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Despite the circumstances, Rashid conveyed his pride in representing Afghanistan and playing for the national side.