Abu Dhabi: Afghanistan cricket icon Mohammad Nabi etched his name in history by becoming the first Afghan batter to cross 6,000 international runs across formats.
The milestone came during Afghanistan’s Asia Cup clash against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Nabi has now amassed 6,057 runs in 315 international matches, including two centuries and 24 half-centuries, at an average of 24.62 and a strike rate of 101.11. His tally includes 33 runs in three Tests, 3,667 runs in 173 ODIs, and 2,357 runs in 139 T20Is. He is Afghanistan’s all-time highest run-scorer in T20Is and the second-highest in ODIs.
In the must-win encounter, Nabi played a blistering knock of 60 off just 22 deliveries, powering Afghanistan to 169/8. With the team struggling at 137/7 after 19 overs, he turned the tide dramatically by smashing five sixes in the final over off Dunith Wellalage. Nabi’s half-century, reached in just 20 balls, set a new record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Afghan batter, breaking the previous 21-ball mark he had shared with Gulbadin Naib.
For Sri Lanka, Nuwan Thushara stood out with the ball, claiming 4/18. Earlier, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan had opted to bat after winning the toss.
With India and Pakistan already through to the Super 4s from Group A, the fight for the two Group B spots remains alive between Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
