Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja declined payment for his mentoring services to the Afghanistan men’s cricket team during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Naseeb Khan, CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), disclosed that the board urged him to accept payment, but Jadeja responded that if the team performs well, that would suffice as his reward.
Under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan showcased a strong performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India. They achieved a commendable sixth position in the points table, securing victories in four out of their nine league matches.
Afghanistan surprised England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka during the ICC event and convincingly defeated the Netherlands by seven wickets. Apart from the players’ achievements, Ajay Jadeja, appointed as the team’s mentor for the tournament, received widespread praise for his behind-the-scenes contributions.
The CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed that the former cricketer, who also captained India in several matches, did not accept any remuneration for guiding the team during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
“We insisted multiple times but Jadeja refused to take any money from the Afghanistan Cricket Board for his services during the 2023 ODI World Cup. His response was, ‘If you play well, that’s all the money and reward I need’,” Khan was quoted as saying by Ariana News.
https://TWITTER.com/asdevender_bbc/status/1801593991588417864
Afghanistan had a good chance to defeat Australia in their league match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. However, Glenn Maxwell smashed a remarkable double century to lead Australia to a narrow three-wicket victory.
Ajay Jadeja finds redemption through cricket
A prominent figure in the Indian team during the 1990s, Jadeja’s cricket career abruptly ended in 2000 when he received a five-year ban due to allegations of match-fixing. The ban was lifted by a Delhi court in January 2003, but by then, his days with the Indian team were already behind him.
Throughout his international career, the 53-year-old participated in 196 ODIs, accumulating 5,359 runs at an average of 37.47, which featured six centuries and 30 half-centuries. Additionally, he competed in 15 Test matches for India, scoring 576 runs at an average of 26.18, with his highest score being 96.
Jadeja was named as the mentor of the Afghanistan cricket team shortly before the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
