Mohammad Nabi resigned as captain of Afghanistan on Sunday (April 19) following the team’s 2015 World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand last month.
Nabi said his lack of form was one of the primary reasons for stepping down. “I have served Afghanistan’s national team as captain for more than two years. I tried my best to bring victories to our team and the nation,” he wrote in a letter to the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
“I am proud that the national team played in the 2015 World Cup under my captaincy. Given the recent performances of the team and particularly my out-of-form status, I would like to request you to accept my resignation as captain and allow me to continue to play as a team player.”
Nabi, who took over the captaincy mantle from Nowroz Mangal in March 2013, won 13 out of 28 ODIs as skipper.
The win over Bangladesh, their first against a Test nation, at the Asia Cup last year and their series-levelling performance against Zimbabwe after going 2-0 down in July 2014 were the highlights of his stint.
Nabi’s record was a shade better in Twenty20 Internationals, with the team winning six of his 12 matches as captain. Afghanistan marked their World Cup debut with a solitary win against Scotland in seven outings. Nabi, 30, had a disappointing campaign, scoring just 90 runs in six innings with a top score of 44. He enjoyed below par returns with the ball too, returning three scalps at an average of 87.00.
