Dethroned Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif dropped a bombshell about great hitter Younis Khan, stating he rejected a stint with the Pakistan cricket team for mentoring Afghanistan. Younis is currently working as Afghanistan’s team mentor in Champions Trophy 2025 and was hired on the eve of the tournament to gain insights into Pakistani playing conditions.
Considering that Afghanistan would require a mentor who knows Pakistani conditions, Younis was a perfect selection. With vast experience playing in Pakistan, he possesses a fine grasp of the pitches and conditions that might turn out to be game-changers for Afghanistan. His appointment follows Afghanistan’s new practice of recruiting retired cricketers from hosting countries as mentors.
Speaking on Geo News’s Haarna Mana Hai, Rashid Latif alleged that Younis intentionally selected Afghanistan instead of Pakistan. “Younis Khan refused to play for Pakistan cricket to collaborate with Afghanistan. There will be no economic gains here,” Latif stated, suggesting that economic factors could have played a role in Younis’ decision.
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The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officially appointed Younis as a mentor for the Champions Trophy, with ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan explaining the rationale behind the decision. “Since the Champions Trophy is being held in Pakistan, it was important to bring in a talented and experienced player from the host country as a mentor. We’ve had great success with this strategy in previous ICC tournaments.”
In fact, this is how Afghanistan has gone about it in the past few years. To take part in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, they had appointed Ajay Jadeja as a mentor for the national side, who recorded breathtaking victories over England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and went very close to making the last four.
Likewise, in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, Afghanistan appointed Dwayne Bravo as their mentor, a move that assisted them in achieving their first-ever semi-final in a senior ICC tournament.
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With the Champions Trophy being hosted in Pakistan, the ACB looked to Younis Khan, with the hope that his experience would provide a similar benefit. Together with Younis, Afghanistan’s head coach Jonathan Trott has been the driving force behind the team’s steady ascent, leading them to become a force to be reckoned with in international cricket.
