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Afghanistan are reportedly set to appoint the former Pakistan skipper, Younis Khan as their mentor ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Younis Khan had worked as Afghanistan’s batting coach in a short-term role back in 2022. (Image: X)
The former Pakistan skipper, Younis Khan is reportedly set to join Afghanistan’s coaching staff as their mentor ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy set to be held in Pakistan and the UAE.
According to a report by IANS, the T20 World Cup-winning captain, will be a part of the Afghanistan camp for their preparations and conditions ahead of the tournament. He will also accompany the team till the end of the tournament as well.
Younis retired from international cricket in 2017, after scoring 10,099 runs in 118 Tests, including a career-best score of 313. The former right-handed batter amassed 7249 runs in 246 ODIs for Pakistan at an average of 31.24, including seven centuries and 48 fifties. He also captained Pakistan to its maiden Men’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2009 in England.
Coming to his coaching career, he was Pakistan’s batting coach for the men’s team but resigned just six months into the role in 2021. He has also had coaching stints with the Peshawar Zalimi from the Pakistan Super League in addition to a head coaching role with the Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. He had also worked as Afghanistan’s batting coach in a short-term role back in 2022.
Afghanistan is set to make its first appearance in the Champions Trophy and the side has continued their pattern of hiring a mentor from the host countries. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, they had roped in Ajay Jadeja for the role and the side certainly impressed everyone after securing four wins in the group stage, including a win over defending champions England.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup held in the West Indies and the USA, they brought in the legendary all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo as their bowling consultant and the move paid massive returns as they entered the semi-finals for the first time.
With Younis’ involvement, it will be interesting to see if the side can continue to bring in positive results and see how far they can go. It would come as no surprise if they once again put up an impressive campaign, but this time they would have to be on their toes right from the first game.
