Puttick, who took over the role in January this year, was previously Pakistan’s batting coach. Trott, on the other hand, took charge as Afghanistan’s head coach for the first time in July 2022 and has played a crucial role in the team’s transformation into a strong white-ball unit. Initially appointed for an 18-month term, Trott was given a 12-month extension in 2024 and again in 2025, leading Afghanistan to several memorable performances on the world stage.
“ACB recognizes that coaching transitions are a natural part of the global cricket ecosystem. Just as teams evolve, so too do their leadership and strategic needs. No international side stays under a single coach forever, and this change marks a new chapter for Afghanistan as the board continues to build 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 board said in a statement as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
The 2026 T20 World Cup, expected to be held in India and Sri Lanka between February 7 and March 8, will mark Trott’s final assignment as Afghanistan’s head coach. Under his leadership, Afghanistan achieved historic milestones, including reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean, their first-ever appearance in the knockout stages of an ICC event, following memorable victories over New Zealand and Australia in the group and Super Eight stages.
Earlier, in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan registered stunning victories over England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and even came close to beating eventual champions Australia.
“It has been a privilege to work with the Afghan national team and witness their passion, resilience and hunger to achieve greatness. I am proud of what we have achieved together and I will always remain a supporter of Afghan cricket. I wish the team and the Afghan people much success in the years to come,” said Trott.
During Trott’s tenure, Afghanistan also registered notable ODI series victories against South Africa and Bangladesh in Sharjah. Earlier in 2025, the team secured a historic place at the upcoming Champions Trophy after finishing in the top eight of the 2023 ODI World Cup points table.
More recently, Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh 3-0 in an ODI series and followed it up with a 3-0 win in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. Under Trott’s leadership, Afghanistan have won 20 of 43 ODIs and 29 of 61 T20Is, marking one of their most successful coaching spells to date.
Trott has already confirmed his next assignment as he will serve as head coach of the Gulf Giants in the upcoming ILT20 season, which starts on December 2. He was previously head coach of the Pretoria Capitals in the 2024/25 SA20 season before being replaced by Sourav Ganguly.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) stated that the process of appointing a new head coach will begin after the 2026 T20 World Cup. Earlier this year, during Trott’s absence from the multi-format tour of Zimbabwe, former fast bowler Hamid Hassan had stepped in as interim head coach, while former captain Nawroz Mangal served as assistant coach.
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