The curtain has fallen on Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 journey, short of Super-8, signaling the departure of long-serving head coach Jonathan Trott after four impactful years. Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials are accelerating efforts to secure a replacement ahead of the Sri Lanka white-ball tour.
Central to the recruitment is a mandate for the new coach and assistants to operate from within Afghanistan during non-competitive periods. This policy underscores a commitment to grassroots development and targeted improvements.
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan elaborated: ‘The contract mandates Afghanistan as their work base. Coaches must track domestic players closely and dedicate off-season time to fixing national weaknesses.’
With interviews wrapped for two South African and one Asian candidate, the board anticipates naming Trott’s heir soon. Khan teased an exciting new phase without naming names.
Reflecting on Trott’s era from 2022, Afghanistan scripted history: ODI World Cup 2023 triumphs over Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka; T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final run via wins against Australia and New Zealand. His all-format expertise turned underdogs into warriors, a tenure celebrated amid the coaching transition.