Afghanistan Cricket Board Narrows Head Coach Search to Three

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-02-21

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is moving fast to find a new leader for their national team. After Jonathan Trott's departure following the team's exit from the ICC T20 World Cup group stage, the search is now down to three final candidates. ACB Chief Executive Naseeb Khan confirmed the shortlist, noting that two of the hopefuls are from South Africa, while the third is from an Asian country. Interviews are already done, but names are being kept under wraps until the ink is dry on a contract. They're aiming to make the big announcement before Afghanistan's upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka in Dubai. That series kicks off right after the T20 World Cup wraps up, so the clock is ticking. ### Why Trott Left and What Happens Next Trott's exit wasn't a huge surprise after the team fell short of reaching the Super 8 stage. The ACB didn't waste any time. They immediately got their HR and technical teams working on finding his replacement. Naseeb put it simply: "Our HR and technical department are currently working on the process of recruiting our next head coach." It's a clear, focused effort to get the right person in place. ### A Major New Requirement for the Job Here's where things get interesting, and it's a real shift from how many international coaching gigs work. The ACB has added a residency clause to the contract. That means the new head coach and any overseas support staff will be required to live in Afghanistan when the team isn't playing an international series. No more working remotely from another country between tours. Naseeb explained the thinking behind this big change. He said the contract clearly states "their duty station will be Afghanistan." The goal is to keep the coaching staff deeply embedded in the domestic cricket scene. When there's no series on, they're expected to roll up their sleeves. That means scouting local talent, identifying the national team's weaknesses, and working directly with domestic players to build a stronger pipeline. It's about making the role a full-time, hands-on presence, not just a job that switches on for international windows. This is a pretty significant departure. Many boards are happy to have their overseas coaches check in from afar when not on tour. The ACB is saying that's not enough anymore. They want boots on the ground, year-round. ### The Timeline for an Announcement So, when will we know? Naseeb is confident they'll have it sorted before the Sri Lanka series. "We will announce the appointment of the new head coach before the Sri Lanka series once the hiring is finalised," he stated. This series in Dubai is Afghanistan's first commitment after the World Cup, and the board clearly wants a permanent figurehead leading the charge, not an interim placeholder. It shows they're looking for stability and a long-term vision. ### What Kind of Coach Are They Looking For? Reading between the lines of Naseeb's comments, the profile is pretty clear. The ACB doesn't want a fly-in, fly-out consultant. They want a builder. - **A full-time resident:** The domestic clause says it all. This coach needs to call Afghanistan home. - **A talent scout:** They must have an eye for local players and a desire to develop the domestic structure. - **A problem-solver:** Downtime is for fixing the team's technical gaps, not just taking a break. It's about treating this as a holistic mission to elevate Afghan cricket from the ground up. The shortlist of two South Africans and one Asian candidate keeps everyone guessing for now. The final decision will come down to who best fits this demanding, immersive new job description. As one insider noted, "It's a tough job, but it's a chance to leave a real legacy in a passionate cricket nation." The right person will see it as the ultimate challenge, not just another coaching post.