This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant

Cites dissatisfaction with the team’s World Cup preparation and conflicts with the administration and selectors.

Afghanistan’s captain, Mohammad Nabi, has resigned due to conflicts with the administration and selectors as well as his dissatisfaction with the team’s preparation for the T20 World Cup.

With three losses and two no-results, Afghanistan finished the World Cup as the only team without a victory after narrowly losing to Australia in Adelaide on Friday.

Rashid Khan’s departure led to Nabi, 37, taking over as captain prior to the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. In 2010, Nabi took over as captain in place of pitcher Nawroz Mangal.

Less than 30 minutes after the selectors selected their team for that 2021 competition, Rashid said he had resigned from the position and claimed he had not been contacted.

Nabi’s most recent stint lasted 23 completed games, with 10 victories and 13 losses. Prior to the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan won their first group at the Asia Cup. However, after losing all three games in the Super Four round, they have now dropped their previous six games.

“Our T20 World Cup journey came to an end, with a result that not us nor our supporters were expecting,” Nabi wrote in a statement posted on his Twitter account. “We are as frustrated as you are with the outcome of matches.

“From the last one year, our team preparation was not to a level that a captain would want it or needed for a big tournament. Moreover, in some of the last tours the team management, selection committee and I were not on the same page which had implications on the team balance.

“Therefore, with due respect, effectively immediately I announce to STEP DOWN as a CAPTAIN & will continue to play for my country when the management & team need me.

“I thank every single one of you from the bottom of my heart who came to the grounds despite matches being affected by the rain and those who supporters us worldwide, your love truly means a lot to us. Long live Afghanistan.”

When addressing at the post-game presentation, Nabi made no mention of his plans to retire, and Afghanistan’s coach Jonathan Trott made no mention of it either in the news conference that followed.