A rare and unforgettable moment was witnessed in Afghanistan’s domestic T20 tournament.
Hasan Isakhil lofted a length ball with a bent knee and sent it flying. A massive six over mid-wicket. Moving forward, Hasan smiled as he looked towards the bowler. That bowler was none other than his father and Afghan cricket legend Mohammad Nabi!
This memorable moment took place on Tuesday during the Shpageeza Cricket League, Afghanistan’s premier domestic T20 competition.
Hasan came out to bat for Amo Sharks against Nabi’s team, Mis Ainak Knights, in Kabul. When the team score was 66 for 2 wickets, Nabi — a 40-year-old off-spinner with 308 international matches to his name — came on to bowl the ninth over. On his very first delivery, 18-year-old Hasan struck a huge six.
Nabi was stunned watching the shot. The commentator exclaimed, “What kind of behavior is this? Your father is bowling to you, son… (It seemed Hasan replied) You are my father, and I have great respect for you off the field, but if you bowl like this, I will definitely send you back.”
Nabi conceded 12 runs in that over and did not bowl again in the innings. Hasan played a stormy innings of 52 runs off 36 balls, hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes.
Although Hasan’s team couldn’t win, scoring 162 runs, Nabi’s team chased it down with 5 wickets and 18 balls to spare. Nabi finished the match with a six.
Though Nabi is a spinning all-rounder, Hasan is a top-order batsman. He has been in the spotlight for several years now. In 2023, Hasan scored a fifty off 32 balls against India’s U19 team. He represented Afghanistan in the 2024 U19 World Cup. That same year, in the Kabul Premier League T20 tournament, he hit 19 sixes and 8 fours, scoring a blazing 156 runs off 51 balls, which drew wide attention.
In May last year, Hasan made headlines again by scoring a century on his first-class debut. To date, he has scored two centuries in four first-class matches. In 25 T20 games, he has scored 599 runs at a strike rate of 121.50.
Afghanistan’s first global cricket star, Nabi, said last February that he dreams of one day playing alongside his son wearing the national team jersey.
That day may not be far away.
