Amid the uncertainties at home, Afghanistan’s international cricket operations have largely taken place outside the country in recent years. Due to the difficult situation at home, foreign coaches and support staff are usually stationed abroad, working with the squad ahead of international assignments in the UAE or India.
However, in a notable shift, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) recently decided that the new coaching staff would have to work within Afghanistan just to closely observe the country’s emerging young talents. The move followed the departure of the long-serving head coach Jonathan Trottwho resigned after nearly four years in charge, ending his tenure after the ongoing T20 World Cup campaign.
When Pybus’ appointment was announced, questions immediately arose as to whether he would be willing to operate from Afghanistan. To allay these concerns, the veteran coach dismissed any doubts about his readiness to take on the challenge.
“No (I haven’t had any doubts about coming and working in Afghanistan). I have no problem with it. You know, I’ve lived in many different parts of the world and so I’m fine with it. I’m looking forward to that and I’m really looking forward to coming and seeing the talent that’s in the country,” Pybus told Cricbuzz.
He further praised the remarkable rise of cricket in Afghanistan over the past decade, highlighting the country’s strong cricket culture and rapid development on the world stage.
“I’ve heard fantastic things about it (Afghanistan) and you know I love that you’ve just got an incredible cricket culture. I mean, to see the evolution of cricket in the country, how they’ve developed so quickly to be able to play at a level where they’re equal to, and on their day better than, the top sides in the world,” he concluded.
Pybus’ first assignment as Afghanistan coach will come in the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, starting in mid-March. The tour will kick off with a three-match T20I series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with matches scheduled for March 13, 15 and 17. The action then shifts to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for a three-match ODI series on March 20, 22 and 25.
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