AFP/Kabul
Mohammad Nabi has stepped down as captain of the Afghanistan national cricket team after more than two years in the job, citing his own poor form and the team’s performance. “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 his letter to the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
“Given the recent performance of the team and particularly my out of form status, I would like you to accept my resignation as captain and allow me to continue to play as a team player.”
Afghanistan made their World Cup debut under Nabi’s captaincy this year, making their mark with a historic one-wicket win over Scotland. The tournament debutants were also impressive when losing to Sri Lanka before falling apart against Australia and New Zealand.
“We performed very well in the World Cup. For the first time in the history of Afghanistan cricket we won a game,” he said. “I will continue to play with the team and advise the new captain.”
Lancashire batsman hits world record 350 in 138 balls
Young Lancashire batsman Liam Livingstone has smashed a world record 350 in just 138 balls during a one-day match. The 21-year-old all-rounder bludgeoned 34 fours and 27 sixes for Nantwich in a Royal London National Club Championship game against Caldy.
The England and Wales Cricket Board said on its website (www.ecb.co.uk) that his innings was the highest recorded in any form of one-day match, beating the previous record of 334 not out by Nikhilesh Surendran in an Indian club fixture in Hyderabad.
Nantwich, a club based in the north-west of England, amassed 579 for seven in 45 overs and ended up winning by a remarkable margin of 500 runs. Caldy’s one bowler registered figures of nought for 123 from nine overs and another finished with two for 124 in eight overs. Caldy were then bowled out for 79 and Livingstone completed a memorable day by taking three catches.
“It was just one of those days when everything I did came off,” said Livingstone, who was used as a substitute fielder by England in last year’s third Test win over India in Manchester after Stuart Broad was struck in the face while batting.
Mohammad Nabi was captain of the Afghanistan cricket team for more than two years.
