Chennai.Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott bid an emotional farewell to his tenure after the team’s final group match in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The 44-year-old Trott could not control his emotions in the press conference held after the win against Canada. He admitted that his journey with Afghanistan ‘began by chance’, but the experience remained one of the most satisfying chapters of his life.
Afghanistan defeated Canada in their final group match. In this match, Ibrahim Zadran became the player of the match by playing an unbeaten inning of 95 runs. He dedicated his award to Coach Trott and watched his coach become emotional from the front row during the farewell press conference.
Took command in 2022
Jonathan Trott took command of the Afghanistan team in 2022. He revealed that originally the post was to be held by Graham Thorpe, but due to circumstances he could not take up the responsibility. After this Trott got this opportunity.
He said, “I got this opportunity by chance. Graham Thorpe played a big role in the development of my coaching career. When I got this responsibility, I accepted it with both hands and worked with full devotion.”
tenure full of achievements
Trott recalled many memorable achievements of his tenure. He said Afghanistan defeated Pakistan for the first time in the World Cup, defeated England and won bilateral series on foreign soil against teams like Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa.
Although the team was not able to repeat the success of 2024 in the 2026 T20 World Cup, Trott said that the human development of the team is more important than the results. He said that when he first saw players like Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Umarzai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, he was impressed by their talent.
The journey from ‘individuals to becoming a team’
Trott pointed out that Afghanistan’s real strength is not just their spin bowlers, but their development as a team. He said that when he first toured Ireland with the team, he realized that the players had immense talent, but all they needed was structure and professionalism.
“Adding a little structure, a professional mindset and high standards made a big difference. There is a world of difference between today’s team and the team of yesteryear,” he said.
Big performance despite limited resources
Trott also underlined that Afghanistan players play with limited resources. They do not have the same permanent home grounds, modern academies and infrastructure facilities that other big teams do.
He said, “Compared to the facilities these players get, their performance is incredible. Many players did not get the education and training that I got, yet they handle the pressure at the international level in front of 20,000 spectators. I salute every player.”
Life changed even outside the field
Trott said the biggest satisfaction for him was seeing the players’ lives changed off the field as well. “These players have taken steps to change the fortunes not only of their sports but also of their families. It has been extremely satisfying for me to see young boys transform into responsible young men,” he said.
eye on the future
When asked about Afghanistan’s batting, Trott expressed the need to increase depth in the team. He said that in the future, it is important to create diverse options for different situations, such as left-right-handed combinations and additional batting options.
Trott has not yet given any clear indication on his next step. However, he smiled at the prospect of becoming the coach of the England team and said, “I have spent a major part of my career in England. It would be nice to get a chance to coach that team someday, but right now I want to take some rest.”
Jonathan Trott’s tenure was full of ups and downs, but he proudly said that these years spent with Afghanistan will remain priceless memories of his life.
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