Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus has dismissed speculation that veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi is nearing the end of his international career. Despite Nabi being left out of the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, Pybus maintains that the experienced campaigner remains a vital part of the national setup, noting, “I think Nabi’s got something to contribute in the formats which he’s available for.” Though Pybus begs to differ, nabi was dropped from the upcoming T20Is against Zimbabwe and many felt that it can well be the end of the experienced campaigner. He’s very disciplined and obviously his record for Afghanistan stands out.
Speaking on October 7, Pybus praised the 39-year-old’s professional conduct and physical dedication. He described Nabi as an incredible, meticulous cricketer who has stayed in excellent physical shape, confirmed by recent GPS tracking data. The coach emphasized that while any player must justify their place through consistent performance, he remains confident in Nabi’s ongoing value to the side, stating, “I look forward to his career moving forward and I’m looking forward to working with him.” “He is an incredible cricketer and he keeps himself in absolutely fantastic shape. But also the way that he just conducts himself as a professional, he’s hugely respected not only for what he’s done in the past. “In terms of his physical conditioning even though he’s a mature cricketer, he really is in good shape and it was really positive to see. “You know like any cricketer you’ve got to consistently perform and he’s as aware of that as anybody else but I really do think he still has plenty to contribute,” he said. “I think the main thing as you get older is hunger and desire.
Beyond the T20I squad selection, the focus for Afghanistan has shifted toward their upcoming Test commitments. The team is set to face Bangladesh in a one-off Test in Abu Dhabi starting October 9. This match arrives shortly after Bangladesh’s historic Test series performance against Australia, which concluded in a 1-1 split following results in Darwin and Mackay.
Pybus views this encounter as an essential benchmark for his side as they continue to evolve as a Test-playing nation. “Playing against Bangladesh is a good opportunity for us to check in where we’re at in Test format,” he remarked. The preparation strategy has emphasized red-ball exposure through domestic first-class competitions, allowing players to build necessary stamina and refine their skills against high-quality bowling.
The coach highlighted the mental and technical challenges inherent in the five-day format, specifically the art of innings construction and managing pressure. He noted that the squad is preparing for a busy window featuring three Test matches in quick succession. Pybus expressed optimism about the team’s growth, adding, “One of the nice things about Test cricket is it’s a simple game and it’s a game of pressure. The more that we play the faster our evolution is going to be.”
As the squad adjusts to the rigors of Test cricket, the coaching staff remains focused on developing individual and team-wide awareness. With a structured approach to the next Future Tours Programme, Pybus intends to sharpen Afghanistan’s competitive edge on the international stage by emphasizing discipline and consistency across all formats.
