By Shahid Hashmi
Pakistan’s retiring batsman Younis Khan has rubbished the news that he was considering a batting coach role with Afghanistan cricket team, saying its an old wine put in a new bottle.
Afghanistan Cricket Board Chairman Atif Mashal was quoted on BBC Urdu on Thursday that they are in talks with Younis who has agreed to coach the Afghan cricket team and the board is currently finalizing the contract.”
Younis, who is playing his last Test in Dominica, said that this is an old story.
“I was approached by some Afghanistan Cricket Board officials in 2012 or 13 as they wanted me as batting adviser but since I was playing I didn’t show any interest,” said Younis from Dominica.
“I have no intentions of going to Afghanistan.”
Pakistan Cricket Board is planning to give a befitting farewell to Younis and Misbah as soon as they return home from the Caribbean.
PCB is also considering appointing Younis as mentor of the Under-19 team. The team will play Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand next year.
Former captains Rashid Latif and Inzamam-ul-Haq and paceman Kabir Khan have previously coached Afghanistan. Inzamam left the job after World Twenty20 2016 due to the fact that Afghanistan had changed their base from Sharjah to Noida in New Delhi.
That change of base to India has almost ended chances of any Pakistani taking an assignment with the Afghan team have ended.
Mushal’s quotes on “security fears in playing in Pakistan” were also treated as a “big joke” by Pakistan media.
“We can’t tour Pakistan because the security situation there is not good,” said Mushal. “But Pakistan can come and play in Afghanistan.”
Security situation in Pakistan has improved manifold as Pakistan have successfully hosted the final of Pakistan Super League in Lahore in March this year and a World XI is also due to tour the country in September this year.
Afghanistan has never hosted any international match as the situation there is fluid.