Mohammad Nabi is Afghanistan’s most experienced player in international cricket, and on Thursday, September 18, he played one of the best knocks by a batter from Afghanistan to help them post a fighting total of 169/8 against Sri Lanka. In the Asia Cup 2025 Group B match currently underway between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, Nabi came out to bat at No. 7 for the Rashid Khan-led side and scored 60 runs from just 22 balls.
During his stay at the crease, Nabi hammered three fours and six sixes. Out of the six sixes Nabi smacked on Thursday, five came in the last over of the innings bowled by Dunith Wellalage.
Nabi changed the gears for Afghanistan in the final over of their innings and hit Wellalage for five sixes in the first five balls.
The fourth six in the 20th over also helped him complete his half-century in 20 balls.
The 20-ball fifty by Nabi at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi helped him equal the record of the fastest 50 in T20Is for Afghanistan.
In the first match of Asia Cup 2025 played between Afghanistan and Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi on September 9, 2025, Azmatullah Omarzai also scored a fifty in 20 balls.
Fastest T20I fifties for Afghanistan (by balls faced)
| PLAYER | BALLS | AGAINST | VENUE | YEAR |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 20 | Hong Kong | Abu Dhabi | 2025 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 20 | Sri Lanka | Abu Dhabi | 2025 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 21 | Ireland | Greater Noida | 2017 |
| Gulbadin Naib | 21 | India | Bengaluru | 2024 |
Nabi added 55 runs from just 18 balls for the eighth wicket with Noor Ahmed (6 from 4) to help Afghanistan post a total of 169/8 in 20 overs.
The ongoing match against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi is a must-win match for Afghanistan. If they manage to get the better of Sri Lanka, then they will finish in the top two and qualify for the Super 4s. But if Sri Lanka chase down the target of 170 runs, then they will top the Group B points table and qualify for the Super 4s along with Bangladesh.
If Afghanistan manage to bowl Sri Lanka out for less than 100 runs, then Bangladesh will finish in the top two along with Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka will get knocked out.
