When questioned about the possibility of joining the Pakistan squad as a coach, former Indian cricket player Ajay Jadeja gave a positive response. Jadeja stated that he would be interested in taking on the role of mentor for the Afghanistan national team.
In the just-ended ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Ajay Jadeja was an integral part of Afghanistan’s coaching staff and made a big impact on the team’s performance.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the team captain, and Jonathan Trott, the current head coach, both acknowledged Ajay Jadeja significant contribution to Afghanistan’s successful World Cup campaign.
“I am prepared. I imparted my knowledge to Afghans, and I think that Pakistan was formerly like Afghanistan. In an interview with Sports Tak, the 52-year-old stated, “You could say anything you wanted to in the face of your teammate.”
Afghanistan defied the assumption that they were underdogs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, which was held in India. This was in contrast to their one victory in the two previous ICC Mega events. Their performance in the recent tournament was on display as they earned a position in the Champions Trophy in 2025 and finished in sixth place with an astounding four wins. They had particularly strong performances in the competition against Pakistan and England.
From 1992 to 2000, Ajay Jadeja participated in 196 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) as a member of the Indian cricket squad. He led the national team on occasion, but in 2000, he was accused of match-fixing, which caused a blow to his career. After initially imposing a life ban, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) subsequently reduced it to five years. On January 27, 2003, the Delhi court overturned his ban; however, he was unable to return to the national team.
Looking ahead, in January 2024, Afghanistan will embark on a three-match T20I series visit of India. The matches of the series will take place in Mohali, Indore, and Bengaluru, respectively, starting on January 11 and ending on January 17.
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