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Mohammad Nabi sympathised with the Dunith Wellalage as the young Lankan spinner his father aged 54 on Thursday, September 18.
Mohammad Nabi shocked to hear about Dunnith Wellalage’s demise
Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi was stunned after learning about the demise of Sri Lankan cricketer Dunith Wellalage’s father. Not long after he hammered the young left-arm spinner five sixes in the Asia Cup 2025 encounter on Friday, the Afghanistan stalwart sympathised with the 22-year-old in Abu Dhabi.
Following Sri Lanka’s six-wicket triumph, coach Sanath Jayasuriya and a team manager informed Wellalage about the untimely demise of his father, Suranga Wellalage, on Thursday, September 18. The incident was captured by on-ground journalists in a video, where Jayasuriya and other members of the Sri Lankan contingent were seen consoling the heartbroken, promising talent.
The moment when Sri Lanka’s coach Sanath Jayasuriya and Team manager informed Dunith Wellallage about the demise of his father right after the match. Dunith’s father passed away due to a sudden heart attack. He was 54.🥲video credits- Dhanushka pic.twitter.com/P01nFFWlVW— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) September 18, 2025
Later on, a group of journalists informed Nabi about Wellalage’s situation. Just as the Afghan legend was boarding the team bus back to the hotel, he stood shocked when one of the reporters told him about the youngster’s loss.
The moment reporters told Mohammad Nabi about passing away of Dinuth Wellalage Father due to heart attack.Reporter told him that it happened during mid break of the match & sri lankan team told wellalage after the game.pic.twitter.com/OQT30OqvSE
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) September 18, 2025
After the brief exchange, Nabi quietly walked off with a member of Afghanistan’s coaching staff. The veteran appeared genuinely sympathetic towards his young Sri Lankan counterpart, who endured a nightmarish outing. In what will be remembered as the first major setback of his budding international career, Wellalage was taken apart in the final over by Nabi, who smashed him for five towering sixes.
Under pressure, the left-arm spinner lost his rhythm, conceding 6, 6, 6, no-ball, 6, and 6 off the first five legal deliveries. He narrowly avoided the rare humiliation of six sixes in an over by firing in a wide yorker, which Nabi could only drive to deep third before being run out attempting a second run. Despite the costly last over, Sri Lanka successfully chased Afghanistan’s 169/8 and sealed their place in the Super 4s from Group B, alongside Bangladesh.
(With Agency Inputs)
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
September 19, 2025, 12:22 IST
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