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Nabi says no plans to retire, hopes to play in next T20 World Cup

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Afghanistan cricket legend Mohammad Nabi says he has no plans to retire and hopes to be selected for the next T20 World Cup in 2026, despite being 39 years old.

Nabi is currently ranked as Number 1 all rounder in ODIs by the ICC and 6th in T20 all rounder rankings.

He played a major role in Afghanistan's rise to the top level of international cricket, playing in both the country’s first One Day International in April 2009 and their first Test match in June 2018.

He was also part of Afghanistan's first T20I team which played against Ireland on 1 February 2010.

Currently leading Dambulla Sixers in the Lanka Premier League, Nabi told the media in Colombo on Friday he was determined to carry on his national duties for at least two more years if selected.

Asked how long he hoped to continue, he said: "For how long I want to continue my cricket? Still, my body is working and I am running fast. I am fielding in the boundary, taking catches well and doing bowling well. Still, I am doing well and I am trying to keep myself (fit) for as long as possible."

"Afghanistan team needs me as well at this stage but still maybe the Champions Trophy will be my last Champions Trophy in 50-over [format] and after that maybe one year and that's it," he said adding that he is keen to end his career with the next edition of ICC T20 World Cup.

"Hope so (about playing in the next T20 World Cup). If I am selected I will have to play," he said.

Nabi added that he is well aware that he is growing old and as a result, he tries to keep fit by maintaining a strict diet.

"I am not young as a forty-year-old man. Still, I try my best to train hard and do my recovery as quickly as possible and it all depends on your food and how you eat. How you eat clean and good food as it makes you more fit," he said.

Nabi went on to say that franchise leagues have helped Afghanistan to be the team it is today. According to him, many national players play for leagues around the world.

"It gives us a lot of experience and also brings that experience in the national team and we share it with the youngsters," he said.

"Afghanistan's T20 performance [in the World Cup 2024] was really good. We beat big teams in the tournament. Yeah, first time in semi-final and in the tough four and that was a great achievement in my cricket life and hopefully more to come. As a team we played and performed in the World Cup and everyone contributed a lot in this World Cup," he said.

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Afghanistan clinches ODI series victory against Zimbabwe

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Afghanistan's national cricket team triumphed over Zimbabwe by 8 wickets in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) to claim the series victory.

In a dominant bowling display, Afghanistan dismissed Zimbabwe for just 127 runs in 30.1 overs. The Afghan batsmen then chased down the target comfortably in 26.5 overs, losing only 2 wickets along the way.

The standout performer of the match was Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, who took a remarkable 5 wickets, while Rashid Khan supported with 3 wickets. Azmatullah Omarzai and Farid Ahmad each claimed 1 wicket.

The first match of the series was abandoned due to rain, but Afghanistan bounced back strongly in the second match, securing a commanding 232-run victory.

This series win follows Afghanistan's earlier success in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, further cementing their dominance in international cricket.

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Bangla Tigers lift Lanka T10 Super League title

Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.

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Hambantota Bangla Tigers beat favorites Jaffna Titans by 26 runs in Thursday’s Lanka T10 Super League final at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.

The Tigers produced a fine all-round performance to beat the Titans, who had won all their matches in the lead up to the final.

Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.

Hambantota Bangla Tigers, put into bat first, posted 133 for seven from their allotted 10 overs through some useful contributions from their top order batsmen.

The openers Mohammad Shahzad and Kusal Perera added 35 runs from 2.4 overs before they suffered a middle order collapse and reached 59 for three at the halfway stage of the innings.

However, skipper Dasun Shanaka and Shevon Daniel revived the innings with a fourth-wicket partnership of 44 runs in three overs.

Shanaka made 21 with two sixes and two boundaries while Daniel struck 26 with one six and three boundaries before Kennar Lewis and Dhananjaya Lakshan added the finishing touches.

Chasing 133 runs for victory, Jaffna Titans lost wickets at regular intervals and they eventually finished at 107 for six despite a fighting unbeaten half century from middle order batsman Tom Abell.
Richard Gleeson wrecked the Hambantota Bangla Tigers’ innings with excellent figures of three wickets for 21 while Shanaka captured two wickets for four runs.

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Afghanistan crush Zimbabwe by 232 runs in second ODI

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Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by 232 runs in the second ODI on Thursday to secure a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Sent to bat first by Zimbabwe who won the toss, Afghanistan posted 286-6 in Harare.

Sediqullah Atal scored 104, his first hundred in an international match. Abdul Malik followed with 84.

In reply, Zimbabwe scored 54 runs before being bowled out in the 17.5 overs.

Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Naweed Zadran took three wickets each. Fazlullah Farooqi picked up two wickets and Azmatullah Omarzai one.

This was the second match of the ODI series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. The first was abandoned due to rain.

The third and final game of the series will be played on Saturday.

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