- By Namrata Vijay
- Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:29 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
AFG vs CAN T20 World Cup 2026: The year 2024 was quite memorable for the Afghanistan cricket team. They had qualified for the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup for the first time, and this moment had made the whole nation proud. As far as Jonathan Trott is concerned, celebrating yet wasn't the ultimate goal. Despite achieving a historic milestone, he talked about unfinished business and their dream of winning a World Cup and not just some stats.
It became quite a historic journey. The Rashid Khan-led side didn't just reach the Super 8; they had also beaten Australia and qualified for the semis. They were a bold team under Trott's guidance. He asked the team to believe in themselves more than the whole world could believe in them. He wanted them to send a stern reminder to their opponents, as this is how the world cricket would have taken them seriously.
Trott didn't have a brilliant record as an England cricketer, just like Joe Root or Alastair Cook. But still, he was treated with respect. And as a coach, he had created something more special than achieving a personal milestone- he had formed an identity, standards, and a winning mindset.
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After his term as the head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team came to an end, following their last group stage match against Canada, no grand celebrations were held for the impact he had on the team. The Afghanistan players paying their tributes to him said a lot. It wasn't just a coach leaving his role but a mentor stepping away from a dream in which he had invested his heart.
REDEFINING AFGHAN CRICKET’S IDENTITY
Trott became Afghanistan's head coach in 2022, at a time when the team was still trying to play consistently. Post their historic 2015 ODI World Cup win against Scotland, they had a forgettable outing in the 2019 edition, where they lost all their matches. They were able to see where the problem lay, but couldn't find a solution for it.
Trott's arrival was the beginning of a new era in Afghanistan cricket. After 2023, the shift was clearly visible. They had become more than just an upcoming team. Despite not qualifying for the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinals, they proved that they can be quite dangerous in world cricket. The 2023 ODI World Cup was the tournament where Trott helped the Afghanistan cricket team achieve a new milestone and also become fearless.
This realisation came when they first defeated the Jos Buttler-led side in New Delhi and had won against a full-member nation for the first time in a 50-over format. This wasn't just a win but a statement as well. And they didn't just stop there. They also recorded their first win against Pakistan. After that, they had beaten Sri Lanka quite comprehensively and showed that their win against England wasn't just a fluke.
With such a historic win came heartbreak as well, and that showed how far they have come. During their clash against Australia, they were on the verge of yet another historic win, but Glenn Maxwell's double ton snatched the match away from their hands. Despite losing, the Rashid Khan-led side was still praised globally.
After the 2023 ODI World Cup, Trott had changed the perception around Afghanistan cricket. They weren't a team that the opponents could take lightly anymore. They looked organised, disciplined, and were full of self-belief. Trott had given them role clarity and the courage to play fearless cricket.