Fortunate to have had lot of memories as Afghanistan coach’: Emotional Trott
CHENNAI: When former England batter Jonathan Trott took the reins as Afghanistan coach in 2022, he would not have expected his team to punch above their weight in his stint, going by the challenges he faced. The job was first offered to his compatriot and former cricketer Graham Thorpe but Thorpe fell sick, giving way to Trott.
On Thursday, Trott walked into the press conference room after his team’s 82-run win over Canada in the T20 World Cup battling tears.
It was under his tenure that Afghanistan reached their first-ever T20 World Cup semi final finish in 2024, in addition to landmark tournament victories, over top-ranked teams, and milestones that elevated Afghanistan’s reputation in cricket.
“I always feel fortunate enough to have had a lot of memories as a player but also now as a coach as well. I think even at this ground (at Chepauk), beating Pakistan in the 50-over World Cup game, beating England, two games in St. Vincent, that’s World Cup stuff,” Trott said.He also mentions the wins against top cricketing nations like South Africa in bilateral series’ as favourite memories. “We’ve beaten Pakistan, Bangladesh away, South Africa in bilaterals. So I’m very fortunate enough to have coached some really great players, some really good humans and a good bunch of guys and areas to improve everywhere,” he added.
When asked on why he is parting ways with the team, he said that it was not his decision.
“It’s not my decision, so that’s all I’ll leave it at really. Maybe the time’s right, maybe it’s not.Now that he has built a solid platform for the next incoming coach of this team, Trott emphasized the importance of grooming more pace bowlers who could support Afghanistan’s spinners led by Rashid Khan.
“The consistency and development of some more seamers that will aid the spinners and not just be heavily reliant on spinners; develop some seam bowlers so that when the team plays in conditions perhaps like the World Cup in 2027 (in South Africa and Namibia), they’ll be able to handle all different varieties of conditions,” he pointed out.