Trott optimistic about Afghanistan’s prospects for more Test match opportunities

Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott, emphasized the importance of playing more Test matches to develop their own brand of cricket. Since being awarded Test status in 2018, Afghanistan has played only six Test matches, with their last one being against Zimbabwe in March 2021. Unlike other teams, they are not part of the ICC Test Championship, which guarantees a certain number of Test matches. Looking at their Future Tours Program (FTP), Afghanistan has a limited number of Test matches scheduled until 2025.

According to the Future Tours Program (FTP), Afghanistan’s Test cricket itinerary for 2023 will culminate with a challenging two-match series against Zimbabwe. Looking ahead to 2024 and 2025, Afghanistan has an exciting lineup of Test matches scheduled. In 2024, they are set to engage in captivating one-off Test encounters against Ireland, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, in addition to engaging in two-match series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

The year 2025 holds further promise for Afghanistan, featuring a solitary Test match against Ireland and an enthralling two-match series against Zimbabwe. The upcoming years offer ample opportunities for Afghanistan to showcase their skills and further establish themselves in the Test arena.

When asked if Afghanistan could adopt an aggressive style of play similar to England’s Bazball, Trott believed that it would depend on the players and the brand of cricket they naturally develop over time. He stressed the importance of finding the right balance and adjusting the style of play based on the available players. Trott acknowledged that England plays a lot of Tests, while Afghanistan is playing their first Test in 27 months. He expressed the hope that Afghanistan would have more opportunities to play Tests, as it is through experience that teams discover their best way of playing.

Trott also highlighted the ambition to win Test matches and the importance of developing a competitive mindset in red-ball cricket. Despite the absence of their leading spinner Rashid Khan, who was rested due to a back problem, Trott acknowledged the difficulty of replacing such an experienced player but saw the time off as an opportunity for Rashid to recover and prepare for upcoming competitions like the Asia Cup and World Cup.

Looking ahead to the Test series against Bangladesh, Trott anticipated tough competition from the hosts. He expressed confidence in surprising Bangladesh, as Afghanistan did in 2019 when they handed them a 224-run defeat in Chattogram. However, Trott emphasized that past achievements are history, and the outcome of the upcoming Test series will depend on the teams’ performance starting from June 14 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Trott acknowledged that playing at home gives Bangladesh an advantage, as does their experience of playing more Tests than Afghanistan. Nevertheless, he emphasized that past performance and conditions do not determine future success. Trott stated that the team has prepared well and trained exceptionally, expressing excitement about playing a Test in Bangladesh. As the head coach, he is focused on ensuring that the players are ready for the Test match and ready to give their best performance.