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Jonathan Trott, the head coach of the Afghanistan men’s cricket team, has publicly criticized the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) for its ‘complete lack of communication,’ revealing that he has been excluded from the squad selection process in recent months. His comments came in the wake of Afghanistan’s crushing innings defeat to Zimbabwe in the one-off Test, a result that has left fans and analysts questioning the team’s direction.
Jonathan Trott expresses frustration over zero input on selection
Speaking after the match, Trott did not hold back his disappointment. The former England batter said he has been left in the dark regarding team composition and key decisions — something he believes has directly affected Afghanistan’s recent performances.
“The sad thing for me is that I haven’t been able to have any input on the squad. I haven’t had any communication with the top management or the chief selector. I’ve been trying to get hold of them for the last couple of weeks, including the chairman, but there’s been no response at all,” Trott said in the post-match presser.
Trott went on to reveal that this communication gap has persisted since the Asia Cup, where Afghanistan’s campaign ended in disappointment. He also expressed frustration at not being consulted even for the playing XI in the Test against Zimbabwe, which Afghanistan lost by an innings and 73 runs.
The coach emphasized that this level of disconnect between management and coaching staff is unsustainable. “It’s difficult to build a winning culture when there’s no collaboration or dialogue,” Trott added.
Future in doubt ahead of T20 World Cup
Trott’s explosive remarks have now thrown his future with the Afghanistan team into uncertainty, especially with the ICC T20 World Cup fast approaching. When asked whether he would consider stepping down from his role, Trott admitted that he would ‘seriously reassess’ his position if communication issues remain unresolved.
“My contract runs until the T20 World Cup. But I need clarity on my responsibilities as head coach. If things don’t change, I’ll have to reconsider whether I can continue under such circumstances,” explained Trott.
Setback after a period of progress
Trott, who took over as Afghanistan’s head coach in July 2022, has been credited with guiding the team through one of its most successful phases in limited-overs cricket. Under his leadership, Afghanistan produced memorable performances in the ODI World Cup and reached the semi-finals of the recent T20 World Cup — achievements that elevated their global reputation.
However, this public fallout with the ACB marks a significant step backward for the team’s stability and morale. Just months before another major international tournament, the rift between the board and its head coach could prove detrimental to Afghanistan’s preparations and unity. As of now, the Afghanistan Cricket Board have not released an official statement addressing Trott’s accusations or clarifying the situation.
Also READ: Afghanistan announced Test and T20I squads for Zimbabwe tour
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
