Afghanistan has appointed former Pakistan captain Younis Khan as their mentor for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The marquee event is scheduled to be held in Pakistan and the UAE from February 19.
Younis Khan, one of Pakistan's greatest players, is not new to coaching a team in international cricket. In 2020, he plied his trade as Pakistan's batting coach during their tour of England. Later, the PCB also granted him an extension even though he decided to part ways with the team. He has worked as a coach for Peshawar Zalmi as well as in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
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In 2017, he was also in talks with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to become the head coach of the team but eventually rejected the offer. Later in 2022, he served as the batting coach for Afghanistan in 2022. Ahead of the Champions Trophy, the AFC appointed him as their mentor, according to Cricbuzz.
“ACB has appointed highly experienced former Pakistan player Younis Khan as the mentor for the Champions Trophy 2025. He (Younis) will join the team before the event begins in Pakistan,” ACB spokesperson Syed Naseem Sadat confirmed to the media.
Younis Khan's artistic career in terms of number:
Younis Khan enjoyed an illustrious career in international cricket and retired from the game as one of the most decorated batsmen to come out of Pakistan.
He has represented Pakistan in 118 Tests and scored 10,099 runs with the help of 34 centuries and 33 half-centuries. The former batsman also scored a triple century in Tests. In ODIs, Younis Khan scored 7249 runs in 265 matches with the help of 7 centuries and 48 fifties.
He has also played 25 T20Is for Pakistan and led them to their first and so far only T20 World Cup title in 2009. Afghanistan will look to make the most of Younis Khan's experience as they look forward to another good campaign in the ICC event.
Afghanistan did really well in the 2023 ODI World Cup, beating the likes of England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to qualify for the Champions Trophy. Last year, they did well in the T20 World Cup as well where they qualified to the semi-finals.
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Afghanistan schedule for ICC Champions Cup 2025:
For the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, Afghanistan is in Group B alongside South Africa, Australia and England.
They will open their campaign against South Africa on February 21 in Karachi. In its second group match, Afghanistan will face England on February 26 before facing Australia on February 28.