Following Afghanistan’s exit from the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has made a significant decision and changed the team’s head coach. Following the end of the long-term tenure of head coach Jonathan Trott, the board has now taken a new direction.
Trott’s tenure ends after four years
Jonathan Trott served as Afghanistan’s head coach for the past four years, during which time the team achieved several significant victories. Under his coaching, Afghanistan strengthened its presence in international cricket.
But a disappointing performance in the recent T20 World Cup necessitated a change. Afghanistan failed to progress beyond the group stage, leading the board to decide to start afresh with a new coach.
Richard Pybus appointed as the new head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team
The ACB has appointed experienced English coach Richard Pybus as the new head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team, following the end of Jonathan Trott’s tenure. The team management hopes that his experience will strengthen the team in upcoming major tournaments.
Richard Pybus has had a long and successful coaching career. He played a key role in leading Pakistan to the final of the 1999 World Cup. He also had a long association with West Indies cricket. During his tenure, the West Indies men’s, women’s, and Under-19 teams won World Cup titles in 2016. This demonstrates his experience and strategic ability.
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Pybus has also served as the West Indies’ High Performance Director and interim head coach. He also served as head coach of the Bangladesh team in 2012.
First Assignment: Series Against Sri Lanka
Pybus’s first major assignment as the new head coach will be the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, to be played in the UAE. The first T20 match of this series will be held in Sharjah on March 13.
This series will be a crucial test for the new coaching team, as the Afghanistan team needs to remain consistently competitive in the T20 format.
High Expectations from a New Beginning
Afghanistan cricket has grown rapidly in the past few years, and now needs experienced guidance to take the team to the next level. The appointment of Richard Pybus is considered a major step in this direction.
The team boasts match-winning players like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. If the team can find balance under the new coach, Afghanistan could become a strong contender in major tournaments in the coming years.
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