Afghanistan appoints Younis Khan as team mentor for Champions Trophy in Pakistan
New Delhi: Afghanistan has brought on board former Pakistan captain Younis Khan as a mentor for its men’s cricket team ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced on Wednesday that the 47-year-old batting legend will join the team in Pakistan before the tournament and remain with them throughout the event.
ACB assigns Younas Khan as Mentor for CT25
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has appointed former Pakistan’s batter Younas Khan as the mentor of the Afghanistan National team for the Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19 in Pakistan. Younas Khan will accompany the team… pic.twitter.com/6yasEXK8Us
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 8, 2025
Younis, who represented Pakistan in 118 Tests, 265 ODIs, and 25 T20s, retired from international cricket in 2017. He briefly served as the national team’s batting coach in 2021 but stepped down following disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Afghanistan is placed in Group B alongside England, Australia, and South Africa. Their opening match will be against South Africa in Karachi on February 21. Over 160 U.K. politicians have called on England to decline playing against Afghanistan, urging the England and Wales Cricket Board to take a stand against the Taliban regime’s suppression of women’s rights.
This will mark Younis’ second time working with Afghanistan, as he previously assisted the team during a training camp in Abu Dhabi in 2022. It will be the third consecutive major ICC event where Afghanistan has enlisted local expertise, following the appointment of former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja as mentor for the 2023 World Cup in India, and Dwayne Bravo as a bowling consultant for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and U.S.
“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,” ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan said.
Afghanistan secured the sixth position at the World Cup in India, defeating England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to earn their spot in the Champions Trophy. During the T20 World Cup, the team made it to the semifinals. The Champions Trophy will kick off on February 19 in Karachi. India, placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, will play all of its matches in Dubai.