Adil Nabi and his brother have gone from West Brom hopefuls to taking on the world with Pakistan
Tuesday’s match between Pakistan and Cambodia in Islamabad ranks among the most significant of Adil Nabi’s career – and he wasn’t even playing.
In fact, he was more than 2,000 miles from the stadium, anxiously pacing the living room of his home in Cyprus watching events unfold on television.
“I did not sit down for one moment. I was kicking every ball!” he laughs.
It was not only the presence of his younger brother, Rahis, in the starting line-up which made it such a nerve-jangling experience.
For Nabi and many others, Pakistan’s victory and qualification for the second round of World Cup qualifying has expanded horizons. At the age of 29, the former Albion academy star now hopes to make his senior international debut next month when Pakistan face Saudi Arabia in their first Group G fixture.
“The original plan was for me to play against Cambodia but we could not get the paperwork sorted in time,” he explains.
“It’s my passport, essentially. With Fifa regulations you need dual nationality. In my case, I’ll also need Fifa clearance because I played for England at youth level.
“Hopefully in the next few weeks it can be sorted and I’ll be ready to play next month. I can’t wait. It is very exciting.”
References to the 11 appearances he made for England’s under-16s and 17s teams are a reminder just how highly regarded Nabi was when rising through the ranks at The Hawthorns.
