Skipper Cobb delighted as Steelbacks land 'number one target' Nabi

Skipper Josh Cobb is overjoyed at the Steelbacks’ capture of off-spinning all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, saying the Afghanistan T20 star was the club’s ‘number one target’.
Mohammad Nabi celebrates claiming a wicket for Afghanistan against the West Indies in the 2019 World Cup in EnglandMohammad Nabi celebrates claiming a wicket for Afghanistan against the West Indies in the 2019 World Cup in England
Mohammad Nabi celebrates claiming a wicket for Afghanistan against the West Indies in the 2019 World Cup in England

The 35-year-old is a world-class performer in the shortest format of the game, and he has signed a deal that will see him available for the entire group stage of the Vitality T20 Blast next summer, as well as the quarter-finals should the Steelbacks get there.

Nabi is ranked as the number one T20 all-rounder by the ICC, and is currently in Australia where he is on the Big Bash roster of the Melbourne Renegades. He has missed the first couple of matches as he is in quarantine after arriving Down Under, but will soon be playing again.

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Hugely experienced, Nabi has played 79 T20 internationals for Afghanistan and has also appeared in the Blast for Leicestershire Foxes and Kent Spitfires, as well as a string of teams across the globe in the IPL, the Caribbean Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League, the Pakistan PL and the Afghanistan PL.

Steelbacks skipper Josh CobbSteelbacks skipper Josh Cobb
Steelbacks skipper Josh Cobb

His T20 stint at the Steelbacks will precede his time with London Spirit in the new Hundred competition that is launched next summer, having been postponed from the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Nabi was our number one target for that role, so Rips (David Ripley) and the club have done a great job to get him.” said Cobb, who skippered the Steelbacks to the last eight in the truncated 2020 competition.

“He’s simply a match winner with bat and ball, that’s about the best way to sum him up.”

So what will Nabi bring to the Steelbacks’ party?

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“We’ve looked at our middle order as a bit of priority for us, so Nabi was the perfect choice with his power and experience,” said Cobb.

“Along with bringing in Tom Taylor last year, we’re now looking pretty strong in that area.

“They’re both three-dimensional players, so they help balance us up a bit and give us plenty of options on the day.

"Nabi’s a crafty bowler too and has the ability to bowl at any stage during the innings, hopefully that’ll mean less powerplay bowling for me!

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“I know people who have coached or played with him and he’s always spoken highly of as a player and person so I’m excited to see him in action and I’m sure our fans will be too.”

In his 271-match T20 career to date, Nabi has scored 4,118 runs at an average of 22.62 and a strike-rate of 141.31. His top score is 89.

With the ball he has 267 wickets at a strike-rate of a scalp every 20.3 balls and an average of 23.34. His best figures are five for 15.

Nabi has also played 124 one day internationals for his country, as well as three Test matches.

He was skipper of Afghanistan in both T20 and ODI formats between 2013 and 2015.