**Asia Cup 2025: Mohammad Nabi Attains Records with Whirlwind 22-Ball 60**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Sep 18, 2025, 11:27 pm*
In a stunning 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 smashed five consecutive sixes off Sri Lankan bowler Dunith Wellalage. The explosive innings helped Afghanistan post a competitive total of 169/8.
### Power Play: Five Sixes in the Final Over
Nabi, 40, turned the tide with a blistering final over from Wellalage. Starting the over with a six over long-off, he followed up with two more sixes over long-on. The Sri Lankan bowler struggled with his line, bowling a no-ball, which Nabi capitalized on by sending the next two deliveries for sixes as well — one over deep mid-wicket.
Nabi scored 32 runs in that over alone, bringing his half-century up in just 20 balls and equaling Azmatullah Omarzai’s record for the fastest half-century by an Afghanistan batter.
### Match Impact and Record-Breaking Innings
Eventually, Nabi was run out for 60 off 22 balls, striking three fours and six sixes. His innings came at a crucial time when Afghanistan was struggling at 137/7 after the penultimate over. Nabi also contributed to a rapid 55-run partnership with Noor Ahmad for the eighth wicket, scoring 48 runs off just 14 balls.
### Record Highlights:
– **Joint-fastest T20I fifty for Afghanistan:**
Nabi matched Azmatullah Omarzai’s record, both reaching their half-centuries in 20 balls. This record now stands as the fastest for Afghan batters in T20 internationals.
– **Among the Oldest to Hit 50+ in T20Is:**
According to Cricbuzz, Mohammad Nabi is only the third player from Full Member teams to score a 50-plus in Men’s T20Is after turning 40. He joins cricket greats Chris Gayle and Mohammad Hafeez in this elite group.
| Player | Age | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|—————-|———–|——-|———-|————–|——|
| Chris Gayle | 41y 294d | 67 | AUS | Gros Islet | 2021 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 40y 260d | 60 | SL | Abu Dhabi | 2025 |
| Mohammad Hafeez| 40y 64d | 99* | NZ | Hamilton | 2020 |
### Career Milestones
– This was Nabi’s 7th T20I fifty in his 139th T20I match.
– He has accumulated 2,357 runs from 130 innings at an average of 22.44 in T20 internationals.
– Nabi has hit 117 sixes in T20Is according to ESPNcricinfo.
– This innings marked his maiden fifty against Sri Lanka in T20Is, where he now has 129 runs from 8 matches at an average of 21.50.
– Across all T20 formats, Nabi has scored over 6,500 runs — specifically 6,516 runs from 457 matches (383 innings) with 18 fifties at an average of 21.08.
Mohammad Nabi’s masterstroke with the bat underlines his enduring class and importance to Afghanistan’s cricket team, especially on the big stage like the Asia Cup.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/mohammad-nabi-hits-60-versus-sl-in-asia-cup-t20/story