How Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma are damaging India | T20 World Cup
“Gratitude for a journey full of progress and pride. Thank you @Trotty for your excellent service as head coach of #AfghanAtalan from 2022. Your impact will always be remembered,” Afghanistan Cricket Board wrote on X.
Afghanistan cricket board post
Under Trott’s leadership, Afghanistan have achieved some of their most significant moments in recent history, including their first ever T20 World Cup semi-final in 2024, major tournament victories, historic wins against top teams and milestones that have enhanced the country’s global cricketing reputation. In the post-match press conference, Trott reflected on his coaching journey and the memories he made as the team developed individually and collectively. “I always feel fortunate to have had a lot of memories as a player, but also now as a coach,” Trott said. “I think even on this ground (in Chennai), to beat Pakistan, I think, for the first time in a World Cup, a 50-over game, to beat England, two games in St. Vincent, that’s a World Cup thing. “But we’ve achieved a lot of other things that we’ve achieved: the bilateral series, the premiership – we’ve beaten Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, all those things. So I’m very fortunate to have coached some really great players, some really good people and a lot of guys and areas that can improve everywhere,” he added. The England international also revealed that coaching Afghanistan was never part of his original plan. He stepped in after Graham Thorpe, who was originally due to take the position, was unable. “Graham Thorpe was supposed to be the coach and unfortunately he couldn’t take on that role. Then I was offered the job and I took it with both hands. But at the same time, Graham was massive in my coaching development and gave me great opportunities at ECB and had full faith and trust in me as a coach,” said Trott. “Give him a lot of credit for that role. So I happen to be here. I put everything into it. I hope the players see the love they have for the game and the care they put into them as players and as people.” Trott stressed the importance of developing more reliable bowlers to complement Afghanistan’s star spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, which would support the team’s next steps in their cricketing journey. “Consistency and developing some more seamers to help the spinners and not just rely heavily on the spinners; develop some seam bowlers so that when the team plays in conditions like the 2027 World Cup (in South Africa and Namibia) they will be able to handle all different kinds of conditions,” he noted. “They’re developing the batting resources to have that and it’s about having the seamers now to compete around the world, hopefully.” Trott, 44, said he now plans to take some time off before embarking on his next chapter. “I’ve really enjoyed it and I don’t know what the future holds. Maybe I’ll take a few days off and see how it goes. I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the World Cup goes. Man, I wish we were still here and could play in the next round,” he said. “I’m very proud of where I’ve played my cricket and I’d always like to see the England side do well. I’d be lying. I’d love to one day hopefully get the chance to coach a team that’s so close to your heart. There’s a lot of people I’m sure would love to do the job.” “So I’ll see you around. But I just want to enjoy my coaching. And I’ve definitely enjoyed the last few years here. My time here has been up and down, but I have great memories,” he concluded.