Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott, believes that his team performs better in day games and is optimistic about their prospects against a strong Indian team in their upcoming Super 8 fixture. Afghanistan enters the Super 8s with confidence, having won three out of four league games, including a victory against New Zealand. They suffered their only loss to West Indies earlier in the week.
Trott expressed excitement about playing India in a day game, stating that day games suit their team better. He acknowledged India as one of the favorites, adding that this added pressure for India is beneficial for Afghanistan. He emphasized that Afghanistan should not be considered underdogs and expressed his team’s readiness and excitement for the upcoming challenge.
Notably, Afghanistan, which came close to securing a semi-final spot in the ODI World Cup in India last year, is regarded as a formidable force in the shortest format of the game. Trott sees the wariness of big teams towards Afghanistan as a compliment and a testament to the team’s strength, earned through the collective efforts of the players.
Regarding their strengths, Trott highlighted the traditionally strong spin bowling performance of Afghanistan and also mentioned the standout performance of left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi in the current tournament. He emphasized the team’s development into a more well-rounded side, capable of taking wickets regardless of the conditions.
Trott also referred to the thrilling double Super Over match that India and Afghanistan played earlier in the year, acknowledging that Afghanistan put up a strong fight. He highlighted the narrow loss, emphasizing the team’s ability to pursue and chase targets effectively in T20 cricket and overall, the narrowing gap between the two sides.
