Afghanistan Cricket Board assigns Younis Khan as Mentor for Champions Trophy 2025

Kabul: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially appointed former Pakistan batter Younis Khan as the mentor for the Afghanistan National Team for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament is scheduled to begin on February 19 in Pakistan.

Younis Khan, renowned for his illustrious cricketing career, will accompany the Afghan squad during their conditioning and preparation camp in Pakistan, providing mentorship until the conclusion of the tournament. This marks his second association with the Afghanistan team, having previously served as a batting coach during a 15-day training camp in the UAE in April 2022.

Younis Khan brings a wealth of experience to the role. The former Pakistan skipper played 265 ODIs, scoring over 7,000 runs, and 118 Test matches, amassing over 10,000 runs during his career. His expertise and familiarity with the conditions in Pakistan are expected to be a significant asset for the Afghan team as they prepare for the high-stakes tournament.

ACB CEO Naseeb Khan expressed his satisfaction with the appointment, stating, “The Afghanistan Cricket Board is pleased to sign a contract with Younis Khan as the interim mentor of the national team for the Champions Trophy 2025. He already has experience working effectively with the team as a batting coach.”

Naseeb Khan emphasized the importance of leveraging local expertise in major tournaments, a strategy that has previously yielded positive results for the Afghanistan team in the ODI World Cup 2023 and T20 World Cup 2024. “Since the Champions Trophy is being held in Pakistan, it was essential to appoint a talented and experienced player from the hosting country. Observing the conditions, we have appointed Younis Khan as mentor for our national team for the upcoming mega event and wish him the best of luck in his crucial assignment,” he added.

Afghanistan’s cricket team has steadily improved on the international stage and will look to capitalize on Younis Khan’s guidance to achieve remarkable success in the Champions Trophy 2025.