The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced the appointment of former Pakistan cricketer Younis Khan as the mentor for the Afghanistan national team for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament is set to commence on February 19 in Pakistan.
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| Image Credits: Afghanistan Cricket Board official website |
Younis Khan, a legendary figure in Pakistani cricket, brings with him a wealth of experience from his international career where he played 118 Tests, 265 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, scoring close to 20,000 runs across formats. His appointment marks the third consecutive time Afghanistan has opted for a mentor from the host nation for a major ICC event, following Ajay Jadeja in the 2023 ODI World Cup and Dwayne Bravo in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The decision to appoint Younis is strategic, considering the Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan, where he can offer insights into local conditions. He will join the team for a conditioning camp in Pakistan before the tournament and remain with them throughout the event, providing mentorship and guidance.
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan expressed optimism about the impact Younis Khan would have on the team, emphasizing the importance of having a mentor with deep knowledge of playing conditions in Pakistan.
"Since the Champions Trophy is being held in Pakistan, it was required to assign a talented and experienced player as mentor from the hosting country. We already had efficient experience with hosting countries’ mentors in ODI World Cup 2023 and T20I World Cup 2024. Observing the conditions, therefore, we have appointed Younis Khan as mentor for our national team for the upcoming mega event and wish him best of the luck in his crucial assignment," stated Naseeb Khan as per Afghanistan media release.
