Dubai, Dec 10 – In an interview from Dubai, veteran Afghan all‑rounder Mohammad Nabi, who is currently with the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, said that having Afghan players in the tournament is a major lift for the team. “Most Afghanistan players are playing in ILT20 and performing well,” he noted. “It gives us a lot of motivation to play in a high‑level league before the T20 World Cup. We also have a series against the West Indies before the tournament happens. Those three T20I games will help us build a strong combination.”
Nabi has appeared in 145 T20I matches for Afghanistan, scoring 2,417 runs and taking 104 wickets. He made his debut for the side at their first T20 World Cup appearance in 2010 and has watched the national team reach the semi‑finals of the 2024 edition, the best finish yet.
Although he’s 40 – an age when many cricketers consider retirement – Nabi insists he’s never slowed down. “I’ve enjoyed cricket more than when I was younger because of my hard work, training, and commitment at a high level,” he said. “I can’t escape anything – I had to focus on my training, sleep, food, and diet. It gave me more motivation. When I am fit, I step onto the ground and give my 100%. When your body is working well and energetic, it improves your performance.”
He explained that his preparation revolves around setting targets for the World Cup, working both as a batsman and a bowler. “With the T20 World Cup coming, I have to focus on my body, fitness, and performance. I train myself both as a batter and a bowler. That’s why all my targets are set on the World Cup, and how I prepare my body for it,” he elaborated.
Nabi has built a reputation as an attacking batting all‑rounder who also bowls useful off‑spin, and, along with leg‑spinner Rashid Khan, helped secure a large number of Afghanistan players in top T20 leagues. He believes a domestic league would launch many talented youngsters onto the world stage. “Exposure is very important for our youngsters. Yesterday, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced that the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) will be launched on December 20 and is set to be played next year.”
“This is great news for our youngsters, as talented players who have performed in domestic cricket but haven’t been seen internationally will now get a platform. It’s an excellent way to motivate players to perform at higher levels,” he added.
Turning to the ILT20, Nabi will focus on leading the defending champions, the Dubai Capitals, who secured their first win of the current season on December 7. “The first win is always important to build and find a good combination for the team,” he said. “We lost the first two games due to small mistakes and narrow margins, and we learnt from that. The last game was really good, and we won by a big margin. Hopefully this winning combination will work through the season.”
Living in the UAE has given him a deep understanding of local conditions, making him a valuable resource for the Capitals’ squad and coaching staff. “For me, it’s like being at home. I always play international cricket in the UAE, and this league is stronger than other leagues because eight to nine international players are in the playing XI.”
He highlighted the small number of non‑international players allowed – two from the UAE and one from the associate ranks – which ensures high quality squads. “It’s a good thing; every team has a strong playing eleven, and it makes for tough competition. But for me, especially, it’s like being a local. All three venues – Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi – have different conditions.”
Nabi stressed the importance of tailoring strategies for each venue. “You need three different plans for playing in these stadiums. I always share my experience with the coaches and players on how to play in Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. It’s a great opportunity to share my knowledge with the team.”
He concluded that working with seasoned coaches and facing diverse opponents is invaluable. “It’s simple – just play cricket and enjoy being in the leagues. I also work on the mistakes I made while playing in the national team, and I correct those when featuring in the league, which helps me a lot. There are many big coaches in these leagues, and I share my mistakes with them to gain more experience based on what they advise.”
“Nabi has said that with so many international players around, they share the errors they made in the national team and learn from them. Then they bring that experience back to the national side. Playing in different conditions and environments gives me more exposure and helps me improve,” he added.
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