Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott does not do hype, yet even he accepts his side will walk out in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday as “slight favourites” against a Bangladesh team that simply have to win to stay alive in the Asia Cup. Recent history, he reckons, justifies that view.
“Since I’ve been with the side, we’ve had some memorable moments,” Trott said. “I think back to when we beat Bangladesh in a 50-over series in Bangladesh for the first time [in 2023]. It had never been done before, and given how strong Bangladesh have been at home, to go there and do that gave us a lot of confidence and positivity.”
Then came St Vincent at the 2024 T20 World Cup, a night Afghanistan supporters still go misty-eyed about. “Then there was the win in St Vincent at the [2024] T20 World Cup, which helped us qualify for the semi-final. That was such a tight, historic game, and it gave us great belief. This group I’m currently working with is not shy about achieving new things or breaking new ground.”
Those two results sum up the modern Afghan mindset. “Whenever there’s something that hasn’t been done before, like a big obstacle or a big challenge, this Afghan side rises to the occasion. They’re not only setting new standards for themselves but also paving the way for future players to keep pushing those boundaries.”
A six-day gap since brushing aside Hong Kong on 9 September has given everyone a breather after a punishing tri-series against UAE and Pakistan – five matches in ten torrid days. “I’m actually quite happy with the break,” Trott said. “Playing in the extreme heat here in the UAE takes a lot out of you. It’s been a good chance to recharge the batteries, take stock of where we are, and get ready to go again. Hopefully, with a win and qualification into the next round, we know there will be quite a few games in a short space of time.”
Captain Rashid Khan had raised eyebrows at the tournament-opening press conference, pointing to a less-than-ideal turnaround of under 48 hours between the tri-series final and the first Asia Cup fixture, plus a three-hour round trip from their Dubai hotel to matches in Abu Dhabi. Fair points, though Trott now feels the timetable could work in their favour.
“I think our schedule has actually played into our hands, as long as we play well tomorrow and do the job in Abu Dhabi,” he explained. “Playing there is very different to Dubai. It looks like it’s been spinning a little more here and in Sharjah. Abu Dhabi is a very different type of pitch – the make-up of the soil is different too.”
That means selection calls will matter. Afghanistan’s three premier spinners – Rashid, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad – pick themselves, yet the coach insists nothing is automatic. “Just because the ball is spinning, it doesn’t automatically mean we’re going to win games,” he cautioned, tempering outside expectations.
Fielding, as television pundit Abhinav Mukund pointed out, still needs tidying up after a few drops against Hong Kong. Trott nodded to that criticism while stressing the bigger picture. “That’s the challenge of playing in these tournaments: you’re constantly adapting to a variety of conditions. I certainly feel that with our squad and the options we have, we can pick a side capable of winning in most conditions.”
He even allowed himself one light-hearted line about a spin-heavy XI, joking they could probably send out five tweakers if required – not that he is about to. Balance remains the watchword. One more disciplined performance and Afghanistan’s Asia Cup will roll on; stumble and a familiar Bangladesh comeback story may grab the headlines instead.
Tuesday, then, is simple enough: win and they are through. Lose, and all those fond memories Trott listed will have to serve as consolation, at least for now.
