"Journey fuelled by relentless determination to excel...": Afghanistan's Mohammed Nabi reflects on team's international debut

Kabul [Afghanistan], April 19 : Veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammed Nabi on Friday posted a heartwarming message, reflecting on his country's first-ever international cricket match back in 2009, saying that the team's journey is a testament to the perseverance and passion of the senior players and he dreams of a day when his country commands the sport with "authority and grace".
Fifteen years ago, on this day, Afghanistan played their first international match, a fifth-place playoff against Scotland during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Qualifiers. Afghanistan won the match by 89 runs, skittling out Scotland for 206 in reply to their 295/8 in the first innings. Nabi won the 'Player of the Match' award for his knock of 58 runs.
https://twitter.com/MohammadNabi007/status/1781273776887656627/photo/1
"OTD, Fifteen years ago, we etched history with our first international cricket match, a moment brimming with emotion and pride for all of us. Holding the title of the best player of the match was the most valuable player of the match for which fills me with everlasting pride," Nabi said on X.
Nabi said that the team's journey is far from over and it is fuelled by a " relentless determination to excel, to reach new heights, and to make Afghanistan a force to be reckoned with in the cricket world."
"I dream of the day when Afghanistan commands the cricket world stage with authority and grace. With the unwavering support of our fellow countrymen, this dream is within reach. To every individual who has stood by us, cheered for us, and believed in us, I dedicate this journey. Long live Afghanistan," he added.
Since their international debut, Afghanistan have indeed come quite far and are ranked 12th in Tests, ninth in ODIs and 10th in T20s. Some of its cricketers, including Rashid Khan, Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmed have developed into popular T20 specialists who are always in demand in T20 leagues worldwide.
They played their first-ever Test match in 2018 against India and have won three out of nine Tests so far against Zimbabwe, Ireland and Bangladesh, losing the other six.
Afghanistan have played 166 ODIs, winning 79, losing 82, tying one and four ending in a no result. This also includes wins over England, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies. During the recent ICC Cricket World Cup in India last year, they almost made it to the semifinals, securing sixth place with four wins and five losses. They had victories over former world champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the tournament and had almost defeated Australia before a miraculous double century from Glenn Maxwell won the game for the Aussies.
They have also played 130 T20Is, winning 79, losing 50 and one ending in no result. This includes wins over Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. Their best performance in the T20 World Cup was during the 2021 edition in the UAE, in which they finished at seventh spot out of 16 after qualifying for the Super 12 phase of the event.
Nabi, known as 'Mr President' among Afghanistan fans and players due to his seniority, is someone who has seen it all with Afghanistan since his international debut in 2009. In 285 international games, he has scored 5,589 runs at an average of 24.84, with two tons and 24 fifties. He has also taken 270 wickets.