Mohammad Nabi
Mohammad Nabi Makes History with 22-Ball 60 in Asia Cup 2025 (Credits : "X")

Overview:

The Afghanistan cricket veteran has set a new record as the oldest player to score a half-century and take a wicket in a T20I against one of the 12 Test-playing nations.

Mohammad Nabi set multiple world records as he helped Afghanistan reach a total of 169 in their must-win Asia Cup 2025 match against Sri Lanka on September 18 at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. Nabi scored 60 runs off 22 balls, including six sixes and three boundaries, as he powered Afghanistan from 79-6 to a competitive total with an explosive 46 runs in the final two overs. His partnership with Noor Ahmed added 59 runs in 17 balls.

In the final over, Nabi scored 31 runs off Dunith Wellalage, hitting five sixes in the first five balls. One run came off the last ball. This is the most expensive final over in a T20I among full members. Among associate members, Dipendra Singh Airee from Nepal has performed better in the final over, hitting six sixes against Qatar in the 20th over of a match in 2024.

Most runs in the final over of a T20I among full members

RunsBatterTeam
31Mohammad NabiAfghanistan
28David MillerSouth Africa
28Marlon SamuelsWest Indies
27Ruturaj GaikwadIndia

Nabi also became the second-oldest player to score a half-century in a T20I against a full-member team, after Chris Gayle. He was the first player over 40 to achieve the milestone against Sri Lanka.

Oldest Players to Score a Half-Century in T20Is Against Full Member Nations

AgeBatterOpponent
41 years, 194 daysChris GayleAustralia
40 years, 260 daysMohammad NabiSri Lanka
39 years, 345 daysSanath JayasuriyaWest Indies

The Afghanistan cricket veteran has set a new record as the oldest player to score a half-century and take a wicket in a T20I against one of the 12 Test-playing nations. He is the first player in his 40s to reach this milestone. The all-rounder claimed the wicket of Pathum Nissanka, with Ireland’s David Johnson previously holding this record.

Nabi has become the oldest player to score a half-century in Asia Cup history, breaking Misbah-ul-Haq’s record. In the T20 format, this achievement was previously held by Tilakaratne Dilshan. Nabi is the first player to reach this milestone after the age of 40.

Oldest players to score a half-century in Asia Cup history

AgeBatterOpponentFormat
40 years, 260 daysMohammad NabiSri LankaT20I
39 years, 284 daysMisbah-ul-HaqSrii LankaODI
39 years, 273 daysMisbah-ul-HaqSri LankaODI
39 years, 142 daysTilakartene DilshanPakistanT20I

Additionally, this is the second occasion in Nabi’s career where he has scored over 60 runs with a strike rate exceeding 270. He becomes the first player to achieve this in T20Is against a Test-playing nation. Nine players have previously accomplished this feat against non-Test teams.

V M Suriya Narayanan is a passionate cricket writer who has been following the game since 2007. With a background in Civil Engineering (B.E.), he blends analytical thinking with a deep understanding of...