ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Younis Khan ditches Pakistan, joins Afghanistan ahead of CT

Afghanistan have roped in former Pakistan captain Younis Khan as their mentor for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The marquee event is scheduled to be played in Pakistan and UAE from February 19.

One of Pakistan's greatest batters, Younis Khan is not new to coaching a team in international cricket. In 2020, he had plied his trade as a batting coach for Pakistan for their tour of England. Later, the PCB also handed him an extension although he decided to part ways from the team. He has served as a coach for Peshawar Zalmi as well in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Also Read: Sam Konstas leaks private chat with Virat Kohli post-shoulder-barge incident

In 2017, he was also in talks with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to become the head coach of the team but eventually declined the offer. Later in 2022, he served as a batting coach for Afghanistan in 2022. And ahead of the Champions Trophy, the ACB has roped him in as their mentor, according to Cricbuzz.

"ACB has assigned former experienced top order Pakistani player Younis Khan as Mentor for Champions Trophy 2025. He (Younis) will join the team before the event starts in Pakistan," Sayeed Naseem Sadat, the spokesman of ACB, confirmed told the news outlet.

Younis Khan's career in number:

Younis Khan enjoyed an illustrious career in international cricket and retired from the game as one of the most decorated batsmen from Pakistan.

He represented Pakistan in 118 Tests and scored 10,099 runs with the help of 34 centuries and 33 half-centuries. The former batsman also scored a triple century in Tests. In ODIs, Younis Khan scored 7249 runs in 265 games with the help of 7 centuries and 48 fifties.

He also played 25 T20Is for Pakistan and led them to their first and so far only T20 World Cup title in 2009. Afghanistan will be looking to make the most of Younis Khan's experience as they eye another good campaign in an ICC event.

Afghanistan did really well in the 2023 ODI World Cup, beating the likes of England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to qualify for the Champions Trophy. Last year, they did well in the T20 World Cup too as they qualified for the semifinals.

Also Read: Big blow for Akash Deep! Pacer's career in jeopardy as BCCI drops major bombshell

Afghanistan's schedule for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

For the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, Afghanistan are in Group B alongside South Africa, Australia and England.

They will be opening their campaign against South Africa on February 21 in Karachi. In their second group game, Afghanistan will face England on February 26 before taking on Australia on February 28.

Also Read: Ben Stokes labels himself 'Bionic Man' following hamstring surgery, starts recovery journey