IND Vs AFG: Jonathan Trott Slams BCCI And ICC For Poor Outfield In Dharamsala Stadium After Afghanistan's Loss To Bangladesh

Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott, expressed concerns about the subpar outfield conditions at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala following their humbling defeat to Bangladesh in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 opener on Saturday, October 7.

In this World Cup clash, both Afghan and Bangladeshi players faced issues with slipping while fielding on the outfield of the picturesque stadium. Trott specifically pointed out that Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Afghanistan’s star spinner, was fortunate to escape a potentially serious injury after a fall.

It’s worth noting that concerns regarding the Dharamsala outfield had already been raised in the lead-up to the World Cup, and the areas near the boundary had been a subject of discussion before the tournament. Trott commented on the situation, saying, “I just think if you’ve got players unsure of whether they can dive…when you’ve got players worried about getting injured, I mean, we’re lucky Mujeeb hasn’t got a serious knee injury.”

He also mentioned that Devon Conway faced a similar issue in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Trott emphasized that he wasn’t attributing the defeat to the outfield conditions but suggested that it’s something to monitor for the future.

Afghanistan’s Batting Performance Was Notably Lacklustre

Afghanistan faced a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in Dharamsala, struggling in all facets of the game. Despite the setback, Trott expressed his confidence in Afghanistan’s ability to bounce back and perform better in the remainder of the World Cup in India.

“We know the areas to improve. We’ve got two big games in Delhi now against India and then England. So, we’ve got to dust ourselves off. A couple of practices and then a big match against India, which is going to be a great spectacle. I know the boys will be really, really up for it,” Trott affirmed.

Afghanistan’s batting performance was notably lackluster in this match. After being put in to bat first, they were bowled out for a paltry total of 156 runs in just 37.2 overs. Afghanistan’s batting lineup crumbled under the pressure exerted by the Bangladeshi bowlers. Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz played pivotal roles, each picking up three wickets to dismantle the Afghan innings.

Bangladesh comfortably chased down the target, winning by six wickets with 15.2 overs to spare. All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a pivotal role in the victory, contributing both with the bat and the ball. His performance, along with Najmul Hossain Shanto’s unbeaten 59, ensured a smooth victory for Bangladesh.

Afghanistan’s next challenge will be facing India in Delhi on Wednesday, October 11. It will be a difficult game for the Afghans given that they have never defeated India in ODIs. India and Afghanistan have played three ODIs with India winning two and one ending up in a tie.