Abid Nabi is a well-known cricketer from Kashmir. Known as the ‘speed king’, he earned his fame thanks to his bowling speed and hitting ability. He represented J&K across many different competitions and is regarded as one of the most successful cricketers from the state.
Today let us take a look at Abid Nabi’s journey in detail.
Early Life
Abid Nabi was born on 26 December 1985 in the Sonwar area of Srinagar city. His father Ghulam Nabi Ahanger was a keen follower of cricket. He encouraged not only his son but other kids in the neighborhood to play sports.
Nabi started playing at a very young age in the local playing fields. In the initial days, Nabi did not think of playing cricket for a living but after impressing everyone with fast bowling, he was encouraged by his seniors to pursue cricket as his career. Despite receiving minimum opportunities, Nabi found his way to playing for the state.
Career Stats
Abid Nabi represented J&K at the U-16 and U-19 level. Nabi made his senior state debut in a Ranji Trophy match against Orissa at Srinagar. Nabi picked up 5 wickets in the match much to the delight of the home crowd.
The tall right-arm speedster was known for his lethal fast bowling spells and handy batting cameos. He also represented J&K in the Duleep and Devdar trophy and at the same time, he also featured in English County Cricket playing seven matches for South Yorkshire in 2005.
Nabi was also picked up as a net bowler for the Indian National Cricket Team where VVS Laxman praised him for his bowling speed and hitting ability.
He made his List-A debut in 2005 against Delhi and claimed a 5-for. In first-class cricket, his best bowling figures in an inning are 6/91 while in List-A, his best performance is 5/50. Nabi’s last match for J&K came in a Ranji Trophy match against Goa in 2012.
According to record books, Nabi took a lesser number of first-class innings to claim 100 wickets than Kapil Dev. His 151.3 kph delivery is still a record for the fastest ball for the J&K side in domestic cricket.
The Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council (JKSSC) appointed him as a Junior Coach in recognition of his performances and contributions to sports across J&K.
India Cricket League (ICL) Stats
Abid Nabi was also the first and only player from Kashmir to play in the ‘now defunct’ Indian Cricket League (ICL) where he represented Delhi Giants for two years (2007-2008).
Nabi was one of the regulars in the side and he formed a formidable partnership with New Zealand pacer Shane Bond.
Nabi played 18 matches across two seasons and took 10 wickets with the best bowling figures of 2/33. He was also handy with the bad making important contributions in the lower order.
Abid Nabi came from a humble background and is an inspiration for many young talents across the state. He urges and encourages youth to stay away from things that will exploit their career and motivates everyone to take part in the sports of their interest.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
