New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has begun the process of appointing a new head coach and support staff, with a clear directive that the incoming personnel must be based in Afghanistan during the off-season.
The move follows the resignation of former England international Jonathan Trott after Afghanistan’s exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Trott’s departure has triggered a broader restructuring within the national setup. ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan said the board now wants a more hands-on approach from its coaching staff, particularly in strengthening the link between the national team and domestic cricket.
“We have stated in the contract (of the head coach and other overseas coaches) that their duty station will be Afghanistan. We want the national team coaches to closely observe our domestic cricket players. And when there are no series scheduled, they should work on improving the national team’s weak points,” Khan was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
The ACB hopes to have the new head coach in place before Afghanistan’s upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. The limited-overs tour, comprising three T20 Internationals followed by three ODIs, is scheduled to be held in Dubai and Sharjah from March 13 to 25, shortly after the T20 World Cup concludes.
Khan expressed confidence that the recruitment process is progressing smoothly and that an announcement will be made soon.
“Our HR and technical departments are currently working on the process (of recruiting our next head coach). They have shortlisted three coaches and their interviews have also been conducted. We will announce the appointment of the new head coach before the Sri Lanka series once the hiring is finalised,” he confirmed.
