Oldest Champions Trophy Players: Mohammad Nabi Joins 40+Club

ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan has entered the list of 40 plus players’ club in the Champions Trophy 2025, against South Africa in Karachi today (February 21).

As a trailblazer for Afghan cricket, Nabi has been at the helm during pivotal moments, including captaining the team in the 2015 World Cup, as well as the T20 World Cups in 2014, 2021, and 2022.

With over 170 ODIs under his belt—many played before Afghanistan gained Full Member status—his remarkable career boasts an impressive tally of 3,618 runs and 172 wickets.

Afghanistan’s remarkable journey in the 2023 ODI World Cup secured them their inaugural Champions Trophy appearance, granting Nabi the chance to join this exclusive fraternity.

At the age of 40 years and 51 days, Nabi became the sixth-oldest player to compete in a Champions Trophy match, joining the ranks of legends like Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya (40y 89d), the USA’s Mark Johnson (40y 321d), Tony Reid (42y 157d), Clayton Lambert (42y 213d), and Donovan Blake (42y 284d).

Though he hung up his Test boots in 2019 and previously indicated that the 2025 Champions Trophy would mark his farewell, Nabi has recently hinted at a change of heart, expressing a longing to continue playing until he can share the field with his son, Hassan Eisakhil.

After being asked to field first, Nabi was called upon by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi in the sixth over of the South African innings. He delivered in style, sending opener Tony de Zorzi back to the pavilion with a sharp back-of-length delivery that veered away from the batter, resulting in a miscue that landed in the hands of Azmatullah Omarzai at mid-on. Later, he took the vital wicket of South African skipper Bavuma who scored 58.

Oldest Champions Trophy players