Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi has informed the Afghanistan Cricket Board of his decision to retire from Test cricket after the ongoing one-off game in Bangladesh.
Nazim Zar Abdur Rahim Zai, the team manager, made a statement at the end of the second day's play in Chattogram saying that Nabi, 34, would continue to play white-ball cricket, but wants younger players to take his place in the longest format.
"Though this is very early for Nabi to stop playing Test matches, this being his third Test match, he will resign from Test matches and this is his last Test," the team manager said. "I hope he plays well. He bowled well today. He told me that newcomers will join Tests, though he will continue in ODI and T20Is for Afghanistan."
Nabi has been one of Afghanistan's most influential cricketers right from the time they started playing international cricket, or even in the period when they were coming up the ranks to where they are now.
He has been a popular pick and a consistent representative for Afghanistan in the worldwide T20 circuit. Including the IPL and the Big Bash League, Nabi has played in most major domestic T20 leagues for several years, apart from also playing almost every game for Afghanistan.
Most recently, Nabi had made a strong impression in the Vitality Blast for Kent, taking eight wickets and scoring 147 runs.