India In Final, Nabi Retires And Afghanistan Squad- March 5 Cricket Highlights

Indian team and Mohammad Nabi [Source: X]

Team India overcame England in a high-scoring semifinal to storm into the final of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Mohammad Nabi has announced his retirement from international cricket. In other news, the ACB has named Afghanistan’s squad for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Thursday, March 5.

Pakistan retains leadership core until 2027 World Cup: Report

As per reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has retained the team’s leadership core until the 2027 ODI World Cup. The reported retention means that fast bowler Shaheen Afridi will continue to remain Pakistan’s ODI captain until the global showpiece event in South Africa next year.

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Agha Salman has also been retained as Pakistan’s T20I captain despite the team’s underwhelming run at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Mike Hesson will remain Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, while Sarfaraz Ahmed has been appointed as the Test coach of the national team going ahead.

Stranded West Indies allowed to go home, confirms coach Sammy

The West Indies cricket team has received a major travelling update in India following their exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup. After getting stranded in the country amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the men from the Caribbean have now been allowed to take off and return back home.

According to a report, the West Indies team will board a direct charter flight to Antigua within the coming days. Head coach Daren Sammy confirmed the travelling update on March 5, i.e., a few days after his team’s crushing defeat to hosts India.

Mohammad Nabi announces retirement from international cricket

Legendary Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has reportedly announced his retirement from international cricket. The 41-year-old cricketer, who made his international debut back in April 2009, is Afghanistan’s most capped player to date with three Tests, 176 ODIs and 152 T20I matches.

While he recently turned up for Afghanistan at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Mohammad Nabi will likely bid adieu to the game after his team’s upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka in the UAE later this month. The senior pro is already included in Afghanistan’s ODI and T20I squads for the series.

Ibrahim Zadran replaces Rashid Khan as new Afghanistan captain

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has named Ibrahim Zadran as new Afghanistan T20I captain. Zadran will be replacing all-rounder Rashid Khan in the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, following Afghanistan’s first-round exit from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last month.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to serve his side as ODI captain, as the ACB named Afghanistan’s 15-player squads for both, the ODI and the T20I series against Sri Lanka later this month in the UAE.

Sanju Samson-inspired India overcome Bethell’s England

Team India secured a thrilling seven-run win over England in the second semifinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup in Mumbai. Batting first, a ballistic 42-ball 89 from Sanju Samson and cracking cameos from Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma pushed India to a monumental 253-7 in 20 overs.

In response, Jacob Bethell bludgeoned 105 from just 48 balls but England managed to list just 246-7 in the chase. For India, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah delivered the decisive spells in the high-scoring game. The hosts will now face New Zealand in the final later this weekend in Ahmedabad.

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