UAE vs AFG: Jonathan Trott To Continue As Afghanistan Head Coach After Successful CWC Campaign

Amidst the ongoing T20I series against the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott has received a contract extension by the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

Jonathan Trott played a total of 52 Tests in his six-year-old international career and has scored 3835 runs at an average of 44.08. He has also hit nine centuries and 19 half-centuries in his Test career and has won many matches for the English team.

Jonathan Trott has also played 68 ODI matches for England and has scored 2838 runs at an average of 51.25 with four centuries. He has also scored 22 half-centuries for the Three Lions in this format.

Meanwhile, the ACB announced on January 1, 2024, after Trott’s 18 months of coaching tenure that he will receive a contract extension. The ACB issued a press release for the same and informed about the development.

Jonathan Trott handed over an extension as Afghanistan’s head coach

The press release read, “Afghanistan Cricket Board confirms the extension of the contract with Mr. Jonathon Trott, the National Team’s Head Coach, for the year 2024. The decision comes in after his successful 18-month tenure, during which he made significant contributions to the team’s progress and development.”

Jonathan Trott was appointed as the head coach of the Afghanistan team in July 2022 and had replaced Graham Thorpe. Trott had one of the most successful stints with the Afghani team as during the 2022 Asia Cup they were able to qualify for the Super 4s stage of the tournament.

Apart from a successful stint in the 2022 Asia Cup, Afghanistan recorded their maiden T20I series wins against Pakistan and ODI series win against Bangladesh respectively.

However, Afghanistan’s breakthrough performance came during the 2023 ODI World Cup as they once became the prime contender to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament. Afghanistan finished in the sixth spot in the points table.

Afghanistan defeated teams such as England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Netherlands in the whole tournament and were also on the verge of beating world champions Australia in Mumbai. However, it was Glenn Maxwell’s brilliance which took the match away from the Afghani team and took Australia over the line.

Afghanistan are currently playing against the United Arab Emirates in a three-match T20I series. The Afghani team put up a dominant performance in the first match and won the game by 72 runs. Afghanistan put up a score of 203 runs while batting first courtesy of a brilliant century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz played an innings of 100 runs and his innings consisted of seven fours and seven sixes. On the other hand, Ibrahim Zadran also hit a half-century and scored 59 runs.

However, Afghanistan were not able to continue the performance in the second match and lost to UAE by 11 runs and leveled the three-match series by 1-1. Now the third match will be played on January 2 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Jonathan Trott now will be eyeing the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy and will want the team to well in both the premier ICC tournaments.