**Asia Cup 2025: Mohammad Nabi Smashes Records with Whirlwind 22-ball 60**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Sep 18, 2025, 11:27 PM*
In an electrifying display of power hitting during Match 11 of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi delivered a breathtaking innings against Sri Lanka. The seasoned batsman blazed his way to a quickfire 60 off just 22 balls, smashing five consecutive sixes off Sri Lankan bowler Dunith Wellalage.
### Strategic Powerplay at the Death Overs
Nabi came to the crease when Afghanistan was struggling at 137/7 after the penultimate over. Demonstrating incredible composure and aggression, the 40-year-old Afghan veteran launched into Wellalage’s final over with intent. He began the over by sending the first ball soaring over long-off for a six, followed by two more massive sixes over long-on.
Wellalage’s attempt to bowl full and wide outside the off-stump backfired as he delivered a no-ball, which Nabi promptly punished with another six on the fourth delivery. He capped off the over by dispatching the fifth ball over deep mid-wicket for yet another six. In total, Nabi scored 32 runs off that over alone.
### Match Impact and Records Equaled
Nabi’s explosive hitting propelled Afghanistan to a competitive total of 169/8. He reached his half-century in just 20 balls, equalling the record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Afghan batsman—previously set by Azmatullah Omarzai. Nabi’s final score of 60 came before he was run out.
In addition to his six sixes and three fours, Nabi forged a vital 55-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Noor Ahmad, who contributed 48 runs off 14 balls, adding crucial momentum to the Afghan innings.
### Notable Records and Milestones
– **Joint-fastest T20I fifty by an Afghan batsman:** Nabi’s 20-ball fifty equals Azmatullah Omarzai’s record.
– **Among the oldest to score 50+ in T20Is:** At 40 years and 260 days, Nabi became only the third player from Full Member teams to score a 50-plus in men’s T20 internationals after turning 40, joining Chris Gayle and Mohammad Hafeez.
– **Career Stats:** This innings marked Nabi’s 7th T20I fifty and came during his 139th T20I match. He has amassed 2,357 runs across 130 innings at an average of 22.44 and hit 117 sixes.
– **Against Sri Lanka:** This was Nabi’s maiden fifty in T20Is against Sri Lanka, with a total of 129 runs from 8 matches at an average of 21.50.
– **Overall T20 career:** Including all T20 formats, Nabi has surpassed 6,500 runs—6,516 runs from 383 innings with 18 fifties in 457 matches, maintaining a strike rate and consistency that highlight his enduring class.
Mohammad Nabi’s whirlwind innings was not only instrumental in giving Afghanistan a fighting total but also further cemented his legacy as one of Afghanistan’s greatest cricketers and a formidable presence in T20 cricket worldwide.
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