The Afghanistan Cricket Board has appointed former Pakistan captain Younis Khan as a mentor for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Khan’s extensive experience and record in international cricket are expected to benefit the Afghanistan team as they prepare for the tournament in Pakistan.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has officially appointed Younis Khan, the former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team, as a mentor for their squad in the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Khan, who has an illustrious career comprising 265 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 118 Test matches, led Pakistan to victory in the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2009. With over 17,000 runs scored across all formats, Younis Khan remains the record-holder for the most Test centuries by a Pakistani batsman, with a total of 34 centuries to his name.
Naseeb Khan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, emphasized the significance of Khan’s extensive experience, especially considering the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy is to be hosted in Pakistan. He indicated that having a proficient and seasoned player as a mentor was necessary for the Afghan team. “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,” Naseeb Khan stated. He further expressed confidence in the strategy based on successful experiences with mentors in previous tournaments, stating, “We already had efficient experience with hosting countries’ mentors in ODI World Cup 2023 and T20I World Cup 2024.”
Younis Khan previously held the position of batting coach for the Afghanistan men’s team in 2022, underscoring his familiarity with the players and the team’s dynamics. The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy is scheduled to commence on February 19, with Afghanistan set to begin their participation on February 21, facing South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan.
The appointment of Younis Khan as the mentor for the Afghanistan national cricket team comes ahead of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, which will take place in Pakistan in 2025. With a rich history in cricket and extensive experience on the international stage, Khan provides invaluable insights into local playing conditions, which are crucial for Afghanistan’s strategy as they compete in such a prestigious tournament. His previous role as batting coach for Afghanistan further highlights his understanding of the team’s needs as they gear up for international competition.
In summary, the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s decision to appoint Younis Khan as a mentor for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy reflects their strategic approach to leveraging local expertise. With Khan’s remarkable cricketing resume and prior experience with the Afghan team, they are poised to benefit as they prepare to face formidable opponents in the tournament. This collaboration symbolizes a bridge of cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan through the sport of cricket.
Original Source: www.icc-cricket.com
