Younis Khan, the former Pakistan Captain passed on an opportunity to coach Pakistan Cricket Team and took up mentor role for Afghanistan right before ICC Champions Trophy. In a recent interview Rashid Latif described that there were no financial fruits of thinking for Younis when he made his choice, but it came all from passion of coaching young cricketers. Even though he is from and has such experiences in Pakistan cricket, Younis is leading Afghanistan to their upcoming tour de force. His experience and guidance will be of great help as Afghanistan take on Australia in what is a must-win match for them at the Lahore on Friday.
Afghanistan’s Strategic Rise And Pakistan’s Unexpected Exit
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is Going to be massively different for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Give them their hope back Pakistan, the hosts of the tournament folded up with consecutive losses to New Zealand and India consecutively. Coming from Afghanistan, who kept their semi-final dreams alive with an important game win over England. It has all gone according to their plan of who to pick as mentors for big tournaments which the Reds have utilised. Younis Khan turned down Pakistan cricket to be close with Afghanistan. Rashid Latif said on Pakistan TV show ‘Haarna Mana Hai’ that “There is no financial advantage here” and Younis is all focused to his new job.
Also Read: Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan Reacts After Pakistan’s Disastrous Campaign Comes To An End
Afghanistan’s Host-Nation Mentor Strategy And Must-Win Clash Against Australia
Afghanistan has this thing of getting all the mentors from the host nation of a big event strategy worked out for major tournaments Only Ajay Jadeja (ODI World Cup 2023 in India) and Younis Khan (Champions Trophy with Pakistan schedule) were brought during the ODI World Cup. Because it was necessary to hire some talented and experienced player from the country where Champions Trophy will be played (held in Pakistan) “We already have good experience in hosting countries mentors, from the ODI World Cup 2023 as well as T20I World Cup 2024, we have hosted,” stated ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan. If Afghanistan are to have any chance of fighting for a semi-final spot on Saturday, they need to be almost perfect in what is shaping up to be a big contest against Australia their only must-win match in Lahore.
