It is quite common in cricket to see brothers playing together and against each other. The Chappell brothers, Waugh brothers, Flower brothers, Pathan brothers and Pandya brothers are some of the examples of the same.

On Friday (January 21), however, veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi created history by playing alongside his 16-year-old son Hassan Khan. The father-son duo played together at the CBFS 2022 Sharjah T20.

As a father, Nabi now wishes to share the Afghanistan dressing room with his son although he agrees that it may only happen if his son becomes good enough to play for the national team.

“It was my hope we would play together once — and that we could play together in the national team,” Nabi told the ‘National’.

“I will try to play a few more years for Afghanistan, and a few more years in leagues too. Hassan will grow more, and hopefully play Under 19s. If he has the ability to play for the national team, then hopefully he will play for the national team. In a proper league, it is [the first time we have played together. It is nice. He is under pressure. But he is a good talent.”

Hassan has enrolled with Sharjah Cricket Academy last year where he is polishing his skills to make a mark in the cricketing world. Unlike his father, though, he hasn’t seen any struggle.

“Our families wouldn’t allow us to play cricket,” Nabi said. “[But] Hassan I know has good talent, which is why I give him more opportunities, at these good facilities, to play cricket."

“In my childhood, I didn’t have anything for myself. But Hassan has all these things. It is totally different. I have told him, the facilities I had when I learnt cricket were not like this. I wasn’t allowed to an academy, and there wasn’t a proper facility for me to play cricket. He has everything. He is using my shoes, my gloves, my pads, bat, helmet. He has everything in his kit bag."

“He is a good student. I told him: first studies, then cricket.”

Mohammed Nabi has already told Hassan that he needs to work harder to make his name since the tag of a celebrity son will bring added pressure.

“I told him it is not easy,” Nabi said. “Because of my name, there is more pressure on you. Work harder, and try to make more of the ability you have been given."

“People will say: ‘You are the son of Mohammed Nabi.’ That will be extra pressure on you, not on me.”