Jonathan Trott quits as Afghanistan head coach days after denying conflict

The Afghanistan Cricket Board officially confirmed that former England batter Jonathan Trott’s stint as head coach will come to an end after the ICC T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka in February next year. Trott will conclude his tenure as the board prepares for a transition in the coaching staff.

Afghanistan, who had a disappointing Asia Cup campaign, clean-swept the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The visitors bounced back strongly to assert their dominance after losing the one-off Test. They recorded a 9-run victory in the third T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday, November 2.

Jonathan Trott to Step Down as Head Coach After the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed that Jonathan Trott will step down as head coach after the ICC T20 World Cup in 2026. The board made the decision as "part of ACB’s long-term strategic planning for the next phase of the national team’s growth."

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Trott, who took charge in 2022, has worked closely with the players over the last few years and helped elevate Afghanistan’s consistency and competitiveness on the world stage.

During his tenure, Afghanistan produced some of their most memorable achievements. The team secured victories against several top-ranked sides and made significant progress at major ICC events.

They finished sixth at the 2023 ODI World Cup after registering wins over England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan qualified for the semifinals for the first time in the 2024 T20 World Cup. They recorded wins over New Zealand, Australia, and Bangladesh before losing to South Africa in the semifinals.

I Am Proud of What We Have Accomplished Together - Jonathan Trott

Jonathan Trott said that he had admired the Afghanistan team’s determination and desire to grow. Trott added that he would continue to support Afghan cricket even after his departure and wished both the players and the nation success in the future.

"It has been a privilege to work with the Afghanistan National Team and to witness their passion, resilience, and hunger to achieve greatness," Trott said.

"I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I will always remain a supporter of Afghan cricket. I wish the team and the Afghan people continued success in the years ahead," he added.

Jonathan Has Played an Important Role in Our Journey - Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO

Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan said that Trott’s departure was part of the board’s long-term roadmap for the team. He acknowledged that Trott helped strengthen the squad’s confidence and competitiveness against top international sides.

"Jonathan has played an important role in our journey, helping our players grow in confidence and compete against the world's strongest sides. As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, this transition is part of our broader plan to take Afghanistan cricket to its next level," Naseeb Khan added.

"On behalf of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, I extend our sincere gratitude to Jonathan Trott for his dedicated service and the professionalism he brought to our national team. His efforts have supported a crucial period in the development of Afghanistan cricket, and we wish him every success in his future endeavors," ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf added.

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