In a significant development, Afghanistan have appointed former Indian captain Ajay Jadeja
as mentor for ICC Men’s cricket world cup 2023. Afghanistan cricket team are looking
forward to make an impact in this mega tournament and they have appointed Ajay Jadeja
considering his impressive ODI record.
Ajay Jadeja played 196 ODI matches and accumulated 5359 runs at an avg. of 37.47. He
scored six centuries and thirty half-centuries against formidable opponents. He also played
15 Test matches. He has represented India in three world cups – 1992, 1996 and 1999.
Ajay Jadeja became a household name in India when he smashed Pakistan’s legendary
bowler Waqar Younis for 22 runs in an over in a high voltage game in 1996 world cup at
Bangalore. He scored 45 runs in just 25 balls and his heroics enabled India to post 287/8
which was a big score considering it was a high pressure quarter final. Pakistan reached
248/9 only and India entered the semi-final of the tournament.
Before the likes of Michael Bevan and MS Dhoni, the term ‘Finisher’ was coined specifically
for batsmen like Ajay Jadeja.
Afghanistan’s first warm up match against South Africa was completely washed out due to
rain. Their next warm up match is against Sri Lanka on October 3, 2023 at Guwahati.
They will play their first match of this tournament against Bangladesh on October 7, 2023 at
Dharamsala.