Jonathan Trott will step down as Afghanistan men’s head coach once the 2026 T20 World Cup is done and dusted, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed on Monday.
“ACB recognises that coaching transitions are a natural part of the global cricketing ecosystem. Just as teams evolve, so do their leadership and strategic needs,” the board said. “No international side remains under a single coach forever, and this change marks a new chapter for Afghanistan as the board continues building toward long-term excellence. This decision comes as part of ACB’s long term strategic planning for the next phase of the national team’s growth.”
The former England batter took charge in July 2022 and, on the numbers, the spell has been productive: 20 wins from 43 one-day internationals and 29 victories in 61 T20s. Under his watch Afghanistan reached the 2023 World Cup in India and have looked increasingly competitive against higher-ranked sides, particularly with the ball.
Trott’s original 18-month deal was rolled over twice, first through 2024 and then extended into 2025. The forthcoming T20 World Cup—expected to run from 7 February to 8 March 2026 in India and Sri Lanka—will therefore serve as his final assignment.
Plenty of detail still has to be ironed out, including the timing of a successor and back-room reshuffles. For now, Trott remains in charge of day-to-day preparations and is said to be “fully committed” to the next fifteen months of work, according to an ACB official.
