Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott did not hold back in criticizing the pitch at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad following his team’s nine-wicket defeat to South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final.

Afghanistan’s batting woes on an uneven wicket

Afghanistan’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired spectacularly. The Afghan batters struggled from the outset on a pitch that exhibited uneven bounce and lateral seam movement. These challenging conditions led to Afghanistan being bowled out for a mere 56 runs, marking the lowest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup semi-final.

South Africa’s bowlers seized the opportunity presented by the tricky pitch conditions. Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi were particularly effective, with Rabada and Jansen each taking three wickets. The Proteas bowlers’ dominance was evident as they exploited the uneven bounce and seam movement to devastating effect, dismantling Afghanistan’s batting lineup in just 12 overs.

Also READ: ‘Whole event is geared towards India� Michael Vaughan takes dig at ICC as South Africa crush Afghanistan in T20 WC 2??024 semifinal

South Africa navigate challenges to secure victory

Despite facing the same pitch challenges in their innings, South Africa’s batter had the advantage of chasing a very low target. Without the pressure of a significant score to overcome, the Proteas comfortably reached the target in 8.5 overs, losing just one wicket. This victory secured their place in their first-ever T20 World Cup final.

Jonathan Trott’s post-match critique

In his post-match press conference, Trott did not mince words about the quality of the pitch. He acknowledged that he did not want his comments to be perceived as ‘sour grapes’ but emphasized the importance of a fair playing surface.

“I don’t want to get myself into trouble. But I also don’t want to sound a bit like ‘sour grapes’ but that’s not the pitch that you want to have a semi-final of a World Cup on. Plain and simple. It should be a fair contest,” Trott said.

Trott argued that T20 cricket should offer an even contest between bat and ball, rather than forcing batters into survival mode from the start. He called for better pitch standards to ensure a balanced and competitive game, ??reflecting on how his bowlers might have exploited the conditions had they bowled first.

“If the opposition bowled well and gets you into a position after bowling well and through skill, then it’s fine to them. Then it’s about adapting. If we had bowled the way South Africa had, you could have seen a different second half,” the 43-year-old added.

“I’m not saying it should be completely flat with no spin and seam movement, you shouldn’t have batters worrying about moving forward and having the ball fly over their head. You should be confident in getting through the line or use their skills. And T20 is all about attacking and scoring runs and taking wickets. Not looking to survive,” Trott concluded.

Also READ: Fans in shock as South Afric?a packs Afghanistan for the lowest-ever total in T20 World Cup semi-final

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Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s premier spinner, has been absent from the cricketing scene since the conclusion of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. His absence includes matches against United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India, and he has also withdrawn from high-profile T20 leagues, such as the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-2024 and SA20 and now he won’t be participating in PSL 2024. This prolonged hiatus st?ems from the 25-year-old undergoing ?back surgery in November last year.

T20 World Cup 2024 and IPL 2024 anticipation

As the cricketing world gears up for the T20 World Cup 2024, slated for the West Indies and the United States of America (USA) in June, and with the imminent arrival of the 17th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the return of Rashid is eagerly awaited. His presence is not only crucial for Afghanistan’s preparations but also for the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the upcoming IPL season.

Jonathan Trott opens up on Rashid Khan’s return

Despite the anticipation, Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott, has provided a cautious update, stating that there is currently no specific time frame for Rashid’s much-awaited return to the cricket field.

“It is a case of us making sure that we are really careful with his back. He is such an influential player, we have to make sure he is 100 per cent ready and not rush him back from that type of surgery. It is important to give him the right time and he is working extremely hard and he is here with the team,” Trott was quoted as saying by ANI.

“He is very passionate and dedicated to the Afghan national side. When he is ready, he will be the first one to get on the field. He has got a few more appointments and check-ups to make sure everything is okay. So there is no real time frame. I hope it is sooner rather than later. But there is no pressure and no rush,” the 42-year-old concluded.

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Afghanistan’s post-India series itinerary

After the conclusion of the India series, Afghanistan’s cricket team is set for an action-packed schedule, beginning with a tour to Sri Lanka for a comprehensive all-format series. Subsequently, they will shift their focus to the UAE, hosting Ireland for a parallel series.

This itinerary includes engaging in One-off Tests, followed by a series of three ODIs and three T20Is against both Sri Lanka and Ireland. The six T20Is hold particular significance as Afghanistan’s last chance for fine-tuning and preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled for June.

Also WATCH: Virat Kohli covers half the ground to take a spectacular running catch during IND? vs AFG 3rd T20I

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In the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, Afghanistan‘s campaign has been nothing short of astonishing. Their stunning victory over the defending champions, England and formidable opponents like Pakistan and Sri Lanka are a testament to their excepti?onal skills and determinat?ion.

Their performance on the field in the ongoing tournament ref??lects their excellent teamwork and showcases a harmonious blend of batting and bowling capabilities. The Afghan cricketers have disp?layed a remarkable synergy, with their batters scoring crucial runs and their bowlers consistently delivering.

This exceptional cricketing display has not only made them a force to be reckoned with but also a source of inspiration for cricket en??thusiasts worldwide, proving that with dedication and talent, even the underdogs can achieve greatness on the global s??tage.

Among all, the former English cricketer Jonathan Trott, who currently holds the position of Afghanistan’s head coach, is also quite happy with his team’s impressive performance.

Jonathan Trott’s daunting task for Afghan batters

With pride in his team’s achievements, Trott laid out the next objective for the in-form batting unit, which is to reach a hundred.

“Nobody has got a hundred so far yet, so that’s the next challenge. Someone accepts responsibility and batting for a longer period and make sure we get a hundred,” Trott said in the post-match press conference following the??ir match against Sri Lanka.

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Jonathan Trott’s unwavering confidence in Afghan batting capabilities

Trott conveyed his confidence in his team’s potential, highlighting that several players have a track record of achieving centuries. He singled out the middle-order batters as pivotal figures capable of stepping up and delivering when needed.

“You see, a lot of hundreds are scored in the tournament. That’s the next frontier, the next barrier. Gurbaz has scored a few hundreds recently, you know Ibrahim has. The middle order is in form, 3-4-5-6, as well. That’s the next challenge and I have got no doubt that the players will be able to in the future. Hopefully it starts with the next game,” the 42-year-old added to his comments.

Also READ: Qualification scenarios for all ??10 teams?? to secure semifinal spot in the ODI World Cup 2023

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The stage is set for another high-octane clash as Afghanistan gear up to take on Pakistan in Match 22 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the MA Chidambaram ??Stadium, Chennai, on Monday, October 23.

Both teams are looking to bounce back from their recent defeats. Afghanistan suffered a 149-run defeat against New Zealand, while Pakistan faced a 62-run loss to Australia in their last encounters.

Ahead of the game, Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott, displayed unwavering confidence that the Afghans can triumph over the G??reen team, who find themselves in a challenging condition after enduring their second consecutive loss.

Both teams respect each other but are very desperate to win: Jonathan Trott

Trott ??acknowledged the historical significance of the Afghanistan-Pakistan cricket rivalry, emphasizing that it has been a passionate and exciting contest in the past. He anticipated an intense and exciting ga??me, as both teams respect each other but are equally determined to secure a victory.

“I think for them (Afghans), it’s a rivalry that excites them. It’s a rivalry that sometimes in the past has been very passionate, but I’m sure we’ll see an exciting game tomorrow. It’s just the nature of the rivalry. And both teams respect each other but are very desperate to win,” Trott said at the pre-??match press conference on Sunday.

Also READ: Actress Nawal Saeed receives flirty DMs from Pakistan players; co??mes up wit?h a befitting reply �World Cup 2023

Trott’s typical analysis of pitch and players’ efforts

Trott stressed the importance of team performance over Chennai’s pitch conditions, especially against a strong team like Pakistan. He emphasized that while spinners play a crucial role, it’s essential for all players, including the batters and bowlers, to contribute to the team’s success. The former English cricketer underlined that victory doesn’t rely solely on spinners but is a collective effort.

“The pitch I’m not sure. Chennai is normally a good wicket. So, everybody’s got to put in a good team performance if we want to beat the likes of a strong side like Pakistan. With spinners, there are only two or three of them playing a game. And, it’s the other eight as well that have to play the game, so that’s important, it’s everybody’s job. It’s not just the spinners’ job to win games. There are batters who’ve got to put runs on the board or chase down a total. Yes, the spinners are important and getting our selection is key for the fixture, but it’s a team effort. There’s no reliance on just spinners,” the 42-year-old added.

Also READ: World Cup 2023 – Pakistan legend Wasim Akram unveils the best white-ball middle-order batter

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The 16th match of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup showcased an intense battle between New Zealand and Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in? Chennai on Wednesday. In this high-stakes?? encounter, New Zealand emerged victorious, securing a comfortable 149-run win and maintaining their unbeaten record in the tournament.

Missed opportunities haunt Afghanistan

The encounter was a thrilling one, with Afghanistan showing early promise in their pursuit of New Zealand’s total. However, the margin of victory does not reflect the closely contested moments in the game, and the turning point of the match was undoubtedly Afghanistan’s fielding lapses.

Head Coach Jonathan Trott highlights fielding errors

Head coach Jonathan Trott, in his post-match analysis, identified fielding errors as the primary reason for Afghanistan’s loss. He emphasized that had Afghanistan managed to hold onto crucial catches, the outcome of the match could have been vastly different.

Trott pointed to several key moments in the game where dropped catches proved costly. In the second over, Rahmat Shah‘s missed catch in the slips allowed Will Young a lifeline when the Kiwi batter was yet to score. This lapse proved significant as Young went on to score 54 runs off 64 balls before being dismissed by Azmatullah Omarzai.

Also READ: Twitter reactions – Clinical New Zealand crush Afghanistan to bag 4th consecutive win in World Cup 2023

Similarly, in the ninth over, Afghanistan’s skipper, Hashmatullah Shahidi, put down Rachin Ravindra, who had not yet opened his account. Ravindra capitalized on this opportunity, going on to score 32 runs off 41 deliveries. Later in the innings, Tom Latham benefited from lax fielding when Shahidi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman both missed relatively straightforward chances.

“We dropped a catch in the second over and we dropped a few catches, really. We dropped Ravindra on nought, we dropped Young on nought. So that sort of gives a little bit of momentum to the opposition. I think if we had taken those and with the wicket of Conway, we would have been in a much better position as well,” Trott lamented during the post?-match press conference.

Trott continued, “Not only like they were, I think they were about 116 for four at one stage, if I’m not mistaken. So, we would have been in an even better position had we held on to those catches. But it wasn’t to be, and, unfortunately, we have to go home regretting those tonight.”

While Afghanistan displayed flashes of brilliance in the game, the? inability to capitalize on key moments proved to be the deciding factor. Despite their best efforts, New Zealand emerged victorious and solidified their p??osition as one of the top contenders in the exciting tournament.

Also WATCH: World Cup 2023, NZ vs AFG – Mitchell Santner bowls a ripper to send back Mohammad Nabi

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