Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan will serve as Afghanistan’s mentor for the 2025 Champions Trophy. This marks his return to the Afghanistan team after working with them in 2022 during a 15-day training camp in Abu Dhabi, where he coached a squad of 25 players.
Younis will join Afghanistan’s squad in Pakistan for a conditioning camp ahead of the tournament, which starts on February 19 in Karachi. He will remain with the team throughout the Champions Trophy. This is the third consecutive global event where the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has appointed a mentor from the host country. They had Ajay Jadeja as mentor for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and Dwayne Bravo as bowling consultant for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. Under their guidance, Afghanistan achieved significant success, including a sixth-place finish in the 2023 World Cup, securing automatic qualification for the Champions Trophy.
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan explained the decision to appoint Younis, emphasizing the need for a seasoned mentor from the host nation, given the conditions in Pakistan. Moreover, Younis’ vast experience in international cricket, which includes 118 Tests, 265 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, makes him a valuable asset to the team. Consequently, the ACB expressed confidence in his ability to guide the players through this crucial tournament.
Afghanistan will compete in Group B of the Champions Trophy, alongside Australia, England, and South Africa. Pakistan will host the tournament, with matches involving India scheduled in Dubai. Younis, who retired from international cricket in 2017, has since dabbled in coaching, including a brief stint as Pakistan’s batting coach in 2021.
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