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In an amazing revelation, former cricketer Rashid Latif has revealed the reason for Younis Khan’s decision of mentor Afghanistan instead of Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Younis, a legendary figure of the Pakistan cricket, was named mentor by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) before the tournament, which is currently underway to Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Why did Younis Khan join Afghanistan as a mentor?
According to Latif, Younis rejected the opportunity to work with the Pakistan Cricket team due to lack of financial benefits. “Younis Khan said no to Pakistan’s cricket to work with Afghanistan. There are no financial benefits here.” Latif testified during a recent interview with Geo News. This statement has provoked discussions about the financial incentives offered by PCB compared to those provided by ACB.
Younis Khan’s impact on Afghanistan
Younis Khan’s participation with Afghanistan has been central to his impressive performance in the tournament. Under his tutoring, Afghanistan recorded a crucial victory over Englandkeeping their semifinal hopes alive. The ACB defended the designation, quoting the strategic importance of the recruitment of mentors of the host nations, a tactic that has given positive results in previous tournaments.
Afghanistan’s strategy of taking advantage of local experience has been successful, with previous mentors like Ajay Jadja and Dwayne Bravo, contributing to important victories in important tournaments. In the World Cup of Hate of 2023 in India, Afghanistan brought Jadja, under whom they won historical victories against England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In the same way, they hired the former Patron of the West Indies Bravo for the World Cup of T20 2024 in the United States and the West Indies, where they reached their first ICC semi-final.
Also read: Strengthen update: Steve Smith reveals why Australia would have been inclined first against Afghanistan | Trophy Champions 2025
ACB strategic decision
The ACB’s decision to name Younis as a mentor was influenced by the location of the tournament in Pakistan. “Since the Champions Trophy is celebrated in Pakistan, it was essential to appoint a mentor with experience and talent of the host country,” Naseeb Khan, the CEO of the ACB, explained in a statement. This strategic movement has allowed Afghanistan to obtain valuable information on play conditions at Pakistan, which has been crucial in its campaign.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s early departure from the tournament has led to widespread criticism, and his battle performance is especially bewildering. The contrast between Afghanistan’s progress and Pakistan’s struggles has highlighted the impact of strategic tutoring on international cricket. Pakistan, the tournament hosts, were eliminated after losing consecutive matches against New Zealand and India.
