The anticipation of Rashid Khan’s absence from the T20I series against India is viewed as a chance for other Afghan players to make a mark against formidable opponents and carve their names into the cricketing landscape, according to Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott. While Rashid, the star leg-spinner, is recovering from back surgery post the ODI World Cup in November, Trott sees this as an opportunity for fresh talent to step into the limelight.

During an interaction with ‘JioCinema,’ Trott expressed,

‘I believe with Rashid out of the side, it’s a good opportunity for other players to come in and step up and become household names like he is.”

Despite acknowledging the absence of Rashid’s leadership and all-around skills, Trott is optimistic about discovering players who can handle pressure and responsibility.

As Afghanistan kicks off the T20I series against India, Trott draws inspiration from their commendable performance at the ODI World Cup last year, setting the stage for rigorous preparation leading up to the T20 World Cup.

Addressing the challenges facing cricket luminaries like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Trott, a former England Test specialist, notes the advantage of having players who have competed against these stars in the IPL. He emphasizes the importance of executing plans against strong Indian sides and being ready to perform under pressure.

While Kohli is set to miss the series-opener due to personal reasons, Trott emphasizes that Afghanistan needs to excel in all aspects of the game and capitalize on key moments under pressure. Looking ahead, he mentions the team’s dual focus on winning the current series and building towards the T20 World Cup in June.

Reflecting on Afghanistan’s achievements in the 50-over World Cup, Trott highlights the players’ newfound belief and confidence. He sees these positive takeaways translating into other formats, fostering a competitive spirit on the world stage.

As the journey to the T20 World Cup in the Americas unfolds, Trott stresses the need to find the right combinations for different conditions. He aims to assemble a squad capable of adapting to diverse challenges and not relying excessively on spin bowling, ensuring a well-rounded and versatile team.

Afghan head coach Jonathan Trott was furious following his team’s disastrous World Cup performance, blaming poor fielding for the team’s downfall. Afghanistan lost by 149 runs against New Zealand. During the Chepauk showdown, the Afghan fielders put down a staggering five catches, granting a significant advantage to Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips, who capitalized on the reprieves, crafting a formidable 144-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

At a press conference following the game, Trott expressed his dissatisfaction by stating,

“I would say that’s not the pressure.” In my opinion, it has also been occurring far too frequently since I took over.”

Trott further explained,

“When you consider the statistics, it is unfortunate that our team ranks at the bottom in terms of catching. So, that needs to improve. I believe we’ve put a lot of effort into it throughout training. Now we simply need to execute it during the actual games.”

Nonetheless, Trott acknowledged the Black Caps’ resilience in the face of adversity. He commended Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips for their impressive performance:

“I think they (Latham and Phillips) played well. But credit must have gone the way they held the innings together because it could have got a lot worse for them. They stabilized the situation and managed to reach a total that could be defended.”

Referring to Rashid Khan’s role in the power play, Trott explained:

“Well, we were just waiting until the state of the ball…when Rashid feels like he can grip it because he obviously needs to spin it both ways and when the ball is not as new and not as slippery.”

Trott expressed his satisfaction with the overall bowling performance.

“Our bowling effort, in my opinion, was excellent since we successfully restrained and restricted their scoring possibilities. However, the game took a different turn when Azmat entered the scene and took two wickets in a single over, altering the course of the game. And then, Rash (Rashid) got a wicket for himself.”

Trott emphasized that despite the wicket playing slowly, it wasn’t a low-scoring pitch.

Challenging Conditions

“”I personally didn’t perceive it as a pitch where the total score would be around 130 runs and all the batsmen would be dismissed. Yes, it did spin a little bit more towards the end. I still feel like we were taking the spinners for nearly five, six and over.”

Pressure in the First Power Play

“The New Zealand seamers were the ones who caused all the trouble for us. By the end of the first power play, we were 28 for 2. When you’re chasing a target of 280, this puts a significant amount of pressure on lower-order players,” he concluded.