Former Pakistan Player Slams Younis Khan for Snubbing Them to Coach Afghanistan for Champions Trophy 2025

Afghanistan’s Victory Over England Sparks Controversy in Pakistan

• Pakistan’s Fury Over Younis Khan’s Appointment:
  Afghanistan’s impressive win over England in the Champions Trophy 2025 has caused a stir in Pakistan, especially after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) appointed Younis Khan as their mentor. Pakistan’s former cricketer Rashid Latif voiced his discontent, pointing out that Younis Khan had rejected an offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to mentor the national team, citing financial reasons.
• Pakistan’s Disappointing Performance:
  Pakistan, the host nation of the tournament, had a dismal start to their campaign. They lost the opening match against New Zealand by 60 runs, followed by a six-wicket defeat to India. Their final group-stage match against Bangladesh ended in a washout. This led to Pakistan becoming the first host nation in ICC Champions Trophy history to exit the tournament without a win.
• Latif’s accusations against Younis Khan:
  Rashid Latif, speaking on Pakistan’s TV show Haarna Mana Hai, accused Younis Khan of rejecting the PCB’s offer to be the mentor of the national team, which led to his appointment by Afghanistan instead. Latif pointed out that there were no financial incentives for Younis in joining Afghanistan.

Why Younis Khan Was Appointed by Afghanistan

• ACB’s Strategy for Appointing Mentors:
  Naseeb Khan, the Chief Executive of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, explained that the decision to appoint a mentor from the hosting country of the tournament was a strategic move. He highlighted that having mentors from the host nation had proven successful in past events, such as the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20I World Cup.
• Afghanistan’s Strong Performance in the Tournament:
  Following their loss to South Africa, Afghanistan made a strong comeback in the Champions Trophy. Ibrahim Zadran’s brilliant 177 (146) against South Africa helped them reach 325/7, and Azmatullah Omarzai contributed with both bat and ball, scoring 41 (31) and taking five wickets. This performance kept Afghanistan’s hopes alive in the tournament.
• Victory Over England:
  Afghanistan’s eight-run victory over England was a historic moment, as it knocked Jos Buttler’s team out of the tournament. This upset added further drama to the ongoing competition.

Afghanistan’s Clash Against Australia: A Virtual Qualifier

• Critical Match for Semi-Final Spot:
  Afghanistan’s ongoing match against Australia has become a virtual qualifier for the semi-finals from Group B. With the Australia-South Africa match being washed out, this match is crucial for both teams to secure a place in the next stage of the tournament.