Challenge to do well, says Nabi
Mohammad Nabi, who is one of the two Afghan players competing in the ongoing IPL, says the league is a chance for him to show the world that his war-torn country has got talent.
“There are lot of expectations from me and Rashid (Khan, the other selected player) to perform in IPL. They (cricket fans back home) are waiting. Hopefully, we perform well. If I get a chance, I will try my best to perform,” he told reporters here.
Nabi, an all-rounder, and Rashid, a teenaged leg-spinner, were been acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the players’ auction for the ongoing 10th edition of the cash-rich league.
“It’s a big challenge for me and Rashid that we perform in IPL to show the world that we have talent,” Nabi said. There is lot of enthusiasm among youth in Afghanistan for cricket though facilities are not up to the mark all over the country, Nabi said.
“India is building a cricket ground in Kandahar. MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are some of the players who are popular in Afghanistan,” he said. Cricket is played at different levels in Afghanistan, including school and club. Afghanistan recently beat Ireland in the T20 and ODI series in India.
Afghanistan are set for another milestone after it was announced Friday they will play their first match at Lord’s, taking on a side led by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.
Now one of the world’s leading Associate, or junior cricket, countries Afghanistan are closinginonbecoming a Test match nation. They are top of the International Cricket Council’s Intercontinental Cup standings, with the winner set to gain Test status next year.
Their 50-over match against MCC at Lord’s, “the home of cricket”, will take place on July 11. Two Afghan players, Mohammad Nabi and Hamid Hassan, were previously on the MCC Young Cricketers scheme. MCC president Matthew Fleming said: “I am thrilled that we will be welcoming Afghanistan to Lord’s this summer.”