In a shocking revelation, former cricketer Rashid Latif has disclosed the explanation behind Younis Khan’s choice to mentor Afghanistan as an alternative of Pakistan through the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Younis, a legendary determine in Pakistan cricket, was appointed as a mentor by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) forward of the event, which is presently underway in Pakistan and the UAE.
Why did Younis Khan be part of Afghanistan as mentor?
Based on Latif, Younis turned down a chance to work with Pakistan’s cricket group because of a scarcity of monetary advantages. “Younis Khan stated no to Pakistan cricket to work with Afghanistan. There are not any monetary advantages right here,” Latif said throughout a current interview on Geo Information. This assertion has sparked debate in regards to the monetary incentives supplied by PCB in comparison with these supplied by ACB.
Younis Khan’s affect on Afghanistan
Younis Khan’s involvement with Afghanistan has been instrumental of their spectacular efficiency within the event. Beneath his mentorship, Afghanistan registered an important victory over England, retaining their semi-final hopes alive. The ACB defended the appointment, citing the strategic significance of hiring mentors from host nations, a tactic that has yielded optimistic leads to earlier tournaments.
Afghanistan’s technique of leveraging native experience has been profitable, with earlier mentors like Ajay Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo contributing to important wins in main tournaments. Within the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Afghanistan introduced in Jadeja, beneath whom they secured historic wins towards England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Equally, they employed former West Indies skipper Bravo for the 2024 T20 World Cup within the USA and West Indies, the place they reached their first-ever ICC semi-final.
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Strategic choice by ACB
The ACB’s choice to nominate Younis as a mentor was influenced by the event’s location in Pakistan. “For the reason that Champions Trophy is being held in Pakistan, it was important to nominate an skilled and proficient mentor from the host nation,” defined Naseeb Khan, ACB’s chief govt, said in a press launch. This strategic transfer has allowed Afghanistan to achieve beneficial insights into enjoying circumstances in Pakistan, which has been essential of their marketing campaign.
In the meantime, Pakistan’s early exit from the event has sparked widespread criticism, with their batting efficiency being notably underwhelming. The distinction between Afghanistan’s progress and Pakistan’s struggles has highlighted the affect of strategic mentorship in worldwide cricket. Pakistan, the hosts of the event, had been eradicated after shedding consecutive matches to New Zealand and India.
