Afghanistan may have bowed out of the Asia Cup 2025, but veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi ensured fans had something unforgettable to cheer about. The 40-year-old smashed five consecutive sixes in a single over against Sri Lanka, setting new records and reminding the cricketing world of his unmatched power-hitting ability.
A Historic Over: 32 Runs of Pure Carnage
The incident unfolded in the 20th over of Afghanistan innings, bowled by Sri Lanka’s young spinner Dunith Wellalage.
- Ball 1: Six over long-on
- Ball 2: Six over deep mid-wicket
- Ball 3: Six straight down the ground
- Ball 4: No-ball, hit for six again
- Ball 5: Another towering six to make it five in a row
- Ball 6: Just a single, missing out on the rare six-sixers feat
In total, Nabi plundered 32 runs from the over, the most ever scored in the final over of a T20I innings against a full-member team.
6️⃣6️⃣6️⃣6️⃣6️⃣ – President Mohammed Nabi 🇦🇫
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) September 19, 2025
– 5 sixes in an over by a 40 year old Mohammad Nabi in Asia Cup 2025 🤯
– Report says, Dunith Wellalage's father got a heart attack during this over. However, the news was circulated after the end of the match 💔pic.twitter.com/BiE9HJq0HM
- Runs scored: 60 (22 balls)
- Strike rate: 272+
- Boundaries: 6 sixes & 3 fours
- Fastest Afghan T20I fifty: Joint record (20 balls)
- Partnership: 59 runs with Noor Ahmad in just 17 balls
This whirlwind innings dragged Afghanistan from a shaky 79/6 to a respectable 169/8.
Records Shattered by Nabi
- Most runs in the 20th over vs a full-member team – 32 (previous best: 28 by David Miller & Marlon Samuels).
- Second-oldest batter to score a T20I fifty – At 40 years, 260 days, only Chris Gayle (41y 194d) was older.
- Fastest Afghan T20I fifty – 20 balls (equaling Ajmatullah Omarzai record earlier in the same tournament).
- Most career international runs for Afghanistan – Surpassing 6050 runs, ahead of Rahmat Shah and Mohammad Shahzad.
Despite Nabi heroics, Afghanistan couldn’t seal victory. Sri Lanka chased 170 with 8 balls to spare, winning by 6 wickets and qualifying for the Super Four. Wellalage, meanwhile, ended up on the wrong side of history, joining Akila Dananjaya (36 runs in an over vs Pollard, 2021) among Sri Lanka most expensive overs in T20I cricket.
While Afghanistan exited the Asia Cup, Nabi innings will be remembered as one of the greatest individual T20 knocks in tournament history. His ability to dominate bowlers even at 40 proves why he remains Afghanistan most trusted match-winner and a true legend of the game.
