Richard Pybus Replaces Jonathan Trott as Afghanistan Head Coach After T20 World Cup 2026 Exit
Afghanistan have wasted no time making changes after a disappointing T20 World Cup exit. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has officially appointed Richard Pybus as their new head coach across all formats, replacing Jonathan Trott who departed after three years in the role.
Afghanistan’s group stage exit at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 — after back-to-back losses to New Zealand and South Africa in what was widely called the toughest group of the tournament — effectively sealed Trott’s fate and opened the door for a fresh start.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| New Head Coach | Richard Pybus |
| Replaced | Jonathan Trott |
| Trott’s Tenure | 3 years |
| Formats | All formats |
| First Assignment | White-ball series vs Sri Lanka — UAE, March 2026 |
Who Is Richard Pybus?
Pybus is an England-born coach with a long and varied career across international cricket. His own playing days were brief — a single List A match for Suffolk back in 1986 before injuries ended his career — but what followed was decades of serious coaching experience at the highest level.
His CV reads impressively across three major international teams:
- Pakistan (1999–2003) — His most celebrated stint. Pybus oversaw Pakistan’s run to the final of the 1999 ODI World Cup, one of the most memorable Pakistani campaigns in history
- Bangladesh (2013) — A short tenure, but valuable experience in subcontinental conditions
- West Indies (2013–2019) — Six years in various roles including director of cricket, high-performance expert, and finally head coach. One of the longest commitments of his career
He also had domestic stints with Middlesex in England and Border and the Titans in South Africa — meaning he understands cricket across multiple formats, conditions and cultures.
| Coaching Role | Team | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Pakistan | 1999–2003 |
| Head Coach | Bangladesh | 2013 |
| Director/Head Coach | West Indies | 2013–2019 |
| Domestic Coach | Middlesex | Various |
| Domestic Coach | Border & Titans (SA) | Various |
Why Did Afghanistan Part Ways With Jonathan Trott?
Trott spent three years as Afghanistan head coach and oversaw genuine progress in that time — particularly in Test cricket where Afghanistan have shown remarkable development as a nation. But the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign was the moment that defined his exit.
Afghanistan were placed in what pundits called the group of death — alongside New Zealand and South Africa. They lost both opening matches and were eliminated before the tournament really got going. For a team with the T20 talent Afghanistan possess — players like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Ibrahim Zadran — an early group stage exit was simply not acceptable.
The ACB clearly felt a new voice, new ideas, and fresh tactical thinking were needed. Enter Pybus.
Check the full T20 World Cup 2026 groups breakdown to see the group Afghanistan were placed in and how other teams in that group performed.
What Pybus Brings to Afghanistan
His experience coaching Pakistan and West Indies — two teams with unpredictable, explosively talented squads that sometimes underperform — makes him well suited to the Afghanistan role.
Afghanistan have remarkable individual talent. Rashid Khan is one of the best T20 bowlers on the planet. Their batting has genuine match-winners throughout the order. The problem has often been consistency, tactical decision-making under pressure, and mental resilience when the going gets tough.
Pybus has managed dressing rooms full of big personalities before. He knows how to organise talent, build team culture, and prepare players for high-pressure international cricket. That experience is exactly what Afghanistan need right now.
His first real test comes quickly — a white-ball series against Sri Lanka in the UAE between March 13 and 25, covering three ODIs and three T20Is. It is a competitive series that will give Pybus his first look at the squad and give the players a chance to reset after the World Cup disappointment.
Follow the latest cricket news and T20 World Cup 2026 updates for more on Afghanistan’s rebuild under Pybus.
Afghanistan’s Road Ahead
The T20 World Cup exit hurts, but Afghanistan are a team building steadily toward something bigger. They have qualified for major tournaments consistently, their Test cricket has grown enormously, and their T20 squad is one of the most dangerous on their day in the world game.
With a new coach bringing fresh perspective and genuine international pedigree, the next cycle could be a significant one for Afghan cricket. The series against Sri Lanka in March is just the starting point — the real goal is arriving at the next major tournament better organised, more tactically prepared, and ready to go deep.
See all T20 World Cup 2026 participating teams and their squads including Afghanistan’s full roster heading into this new chapter.
The Bottom Line
Trott’s three years brought stability and development. Pybus brings World Cup final experience as a coach, subcontinental knowledge, and a fresh set of eyes on a squad that has the talent to compete with anyone on their day. The appointment makes sense — and the cricket world will be watching to see what Afghanistan look like under his leadership from March onwards.
FAQs
Q. Who is the new Afghanistan cricket head coach? Richard Pybus, an England-born coach with previous experience coaching Pakistan, Bangladesh and West Indies, has been appointed Afghanistan’s new head coach.
Q. Why was Jonathan Trott replaced as Afghanistan coach? Trott’s three-year tenure ended after Afghanistan’s group stage exit at the T20 World Cup 2026, losing to New Zealand and South Africa in the group stage.
Q. What is Richard Pybus’ most notable coaching achievement? Pybus guided Pakistan to the final of the 1999 ODI World Cup during his tenure as Pakistan head coach from 1999 to 2003.
Q. When does Richard Pybus start as Afghanistan coach? Pybus joins the team in March 2026 ahead of a white-ball series against Sri Lanka in the UAE, running from March 13 to 25.
Q. How long did Richard Pybus work with West Indies? Pybus spent six years with West Indies from 2013 to 2019, serving in roles including director of cricket and head coach.
Q. Why did Afghanistan exit the T20 World Cup 2026 early? Afghanistan lost their first two group stage matches against New Zealand and South Africa — both strong sides — and were eliminated before the Super Eights.
