Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has paid rich tributes to outgoing head coach Jonathan Trott, saying the former England batsman played a crucial role in guiding the team on the right path and raising the standards of Afghanistan cricket.
Afghanistan will take on Canada in their final match of the T20 World Cup, which will also mark Trott’s last fight.
“We have a series against Sri Lanka right after the World Cup and then the IPL. Tomorrow is Jonathan Trott’s last match with us. We had some incredible matches and tours with him. He was someone who took Afghanistan cricket to where it is now,” Rashid said on the eve of the Canada clash.
“I think he worked so hard with everybody. He’s definitely going to be missed a lot by everybody around us. He played a major role in getting this team going the right way, the right way.”
RAISING THE BAR
Under Trott, Afghanistan have grown into a side capable of consistently competing with top teams across formats. Rashid stressed that the progress was the result of sustained hard work and clear direction.
Looking ahead, the skipper emphasized the need for continuous improvement as opposition teams begin to come up with concrete plans against Afghanistan.
“Nothing is easy for us now. Teams will come against us with different plans. It’s about how we handle ourselves, improve our skills and stay one step ahead of the opposition. It depends on individuals and how we prepare,” he said.
“We went through difficult and pressure situations, but individually you have to think about how you react and lead the team.
FOCUS ON THE 50 OVER WORLD CUP
Rashid also turned his attention to the upcoming ODI World Cup in South Africa and said that Afghanistan are determined to build on their strong performance in 2023.
“We had a great World Cup in 2023 but we are looking forward to improving on the things we didn’t do well and we will improve every day,” he added.
NABI FUTURE AND GAME ENJOYMENT
When asked if veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi would accept the call for his international future, Rashid said the decision rests entirely with the veteran.
“I think I have to ask him. Well, everyone knows themselves very well before anyone else said it’s time for you to go. I think he’s still fit. He’s still doing well for the team.”
“He still plays on the boundary and runs better than any other youngster in the team and I feel you have some cricket left in you, but it’s all about individual decision. It’s all about how long you enjoy cricket. For me personally, as long as I don’t enjoy it, I’ll play. Once it stops, I can’t see myself playing anymore.”
CHALLENGING PROGRAM, GREAT MARGINS
With the Afghanistan campaign in mind, Rashid admitted that scheduling made the task particularly challenging as two major sides lined up at the start of the tournament.
“I feel like it’s been a bit of a different campaign for us this time. You’ve got to play the two best sides at the start. New Zealand and South Africa, in four days’ time, you’ve got to be like you can’t make any mistakes and no mistakes can put you out of the competition and I feel that’s what happened to us.”
“We were a bit like playing each other two games in a row and against big teams and then a tight game against South Africa. Didn’t we cross the line to be on the winning side? But that’s what T20s are about. You can’t really take a back seat, relax a bit.”
As Afghanistan prepare to wrap up their campaign against Canada, we’ll also look to give Trott a fitting farewell after a tenure that Rashid believes shaped the team’s modern identity.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 18, 2026