Hope I and my son can play together for Afghanistan some day: Mohammad Nabi

Afghanistan is currently playing a three-match ODI series against the Netherlands in Qatar. The Afghan team won the first match of the series by 36 runs and are scheduled to play the second game on January 23. Mohammad Nabi, the T20I captain of Afghanistan ruled himself out of the series so that a young player could get an opportunity.

Meanwhile, it allowed him to play alongside his son in the Sharjah CBFS T20. Hassan Khan, Nabi’s son, is a part of the Bukhatir XI in the tournament. The 16-year-old lad had made 148 runs in five matches at an average of 37 and a strike rate of 148. Nabi was invited because of his son, and he mentioned that it was his dream to play alongside him.

Hasan was admitted to the Sharjah Cricket Academy last year and quickly grabbed the opportunity to play in the T20 tournament. He has been really impressive in the tournament since the start of his tenure. Nabi, who made his ODI debut for Afghanistan in 2009 mentioned that he would like to play for the national for a few more years.

“It was my hope we would play together once — and that we could play together in the national team,” Nabi said as quoted by The National News.

“I will try to play a few more years for Afghanistan, and a few more years in leagues too.

Hopefully, Hasan will play for Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi

Nabi further mentioned that he hopes his son will play for Afghanistan Under-19 and then get a chance to play in the national team as well. He hopes that one day he will get a chance to play with his son in the Afghanistan team.

“Hassan will grow more, and hopefully play Under 19s. If he has the ability to play for the national team, then hopefully he will play for the national team.

“In a proper league, it is [the first time] we have played together. It is nice. He is under pressure. But he is a good talent.”

Nabi started his cricketing journey by playing in refugee camps in Pakistan against the wish of his father. But, he wants Hasan to train at the best cricket academy and tries to give him more opportunities.

“Our families wouldn’t allow us to play cricket,” Nabi said. “[But] Hassan I know has good talent, which is why I give him more opportunities, at these good facilities, to play cricket.

“In my childhood, I didn’t have anything for myself. But Hassan has all these things.

“It is totally different. I have told him, the facilities I had when I learnt cricket were not like this. I wasn’t allowed to an academy, and there wasn’t a proper facility for me to play cricket,” concluded Nabi.