Kabul, Afghanistan – In a truly rare and memorable moment in the world of cricket, Afghanistan’s legendary all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, at 40 years old, faced off against his 18-year-old son, Hassan Eisakhil, in the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL). The generational encounter, which occurred during a match between Mis Ainak Region and Amo Region on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, saw the younger Eisakhil announce his arrival with a stunning first-ball six off his father’s bowling, en route to a crisp half-century.
Watch: Mohammad Nabi slammed for 6 by his son Hassan Eisakhil
A Father-Son Showdown
The highly anticipated moment arrived in the ninth over of Amo Region’s innings when Mohammad Nabi, playing for Mis Ainak Region, came on to bowl. On strike was his son, Hassan Eisakhil, opening the batting for Amo Region On the very first delivery of Nabi’s spell, Eisakhil unleashed a powerful hit, clobbering the ball over mid-wicket for a towering six. While the young batter appeared to exchange words with his father, no smiles were reportedly shared between them in that intensely competitive moment.
Eisakhil went on to be the top scorer for Amo Region, slamming 52 runs off just 36 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes, before his dismissal. His impressive knock helped Amo Region post a total of 162 batting first. Nabi, on the other hand, bowled only that single over, conceding 12 runs. He later contributed with the bat, hitting a six himself as Mis Ainak Region successfully chased down the target with three overs to spare.
ICC Pledges Support for Displaced Afghan Women Cricketers
In a separate but equally significant development for Afghan cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced increased support for Afghanistan’s displaced women’s cricketers. Most of these players were forced into exile after the Taliban regained power in 2021, effectively outlawing women from participating in sport. Many have sought refuge in countries like Australia, where they even held an unofficial match in Melbourne earlier this year.
During the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore over the weekend, progress was reported on the governing body’s Afghanistan women’s cricket initiative. In a statement released late Sunday, the ICC confirmed, “The programme aims to deliver structured support, domestic playing opportunities, and engagement at key ICC global events, including the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.”
While specific details were not provided, reports suggest the initiative will facilitate opportunities for Afghan women players to interact with fellow international cricketers and attend workshops conducted by coaches at these global showpieces. This collaborative effort is being overseen by ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja, with the involvement of the cricket boards of India, England, and Australia.
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