- By Manik Sharma
- Sat, 13 Jan 2024 06:54 PM (IST)
- Source:PTI
IND vs AFG: In the initial encounter of the 3-match T20I series against India, Afghanistan faced a defeat, but coach Jonathan Trott was buoyed by the positive aspects not only in the game but also in the opportunity for his team to compete against India in a bilateral white-ball series for the first time.
Trott highlighted the limited exposure of Afghan players to international cricket, with most of their experience coming from franchise cricket.
“The bilateral series (against India) is a step in the right direction for our side. It's an indication of the progress made by the side," PTI quoted Trott as saying in his pre-match press conference ahead of the second T20I.
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"Hopefully, it can happen all over the world and not just in India. We want to play as many series as possible in other countries as well,” he added.
The coach expressed excitement about the challenges ahead, acknowledging that facing top-class players and bowlers is essential for the team's growth.
“The more cricket we play as a team, the better it is for us. The players will get more exposure. At the moment, their exposure is limited to franchise cricket. This is the first bilateral series against India, and it's a big occasion for the side,” Trott said.
“Every team's gonna have world-class players and we need to get accustomed to that if we want to start winning and beating sides. You're going to have to bowl against the best or face up against the best bowlers in the world,” he added.
Drawing from Afghanistan's positive performance in the ODI World Cup, Trott sees it as a pathway for future success. He believes that the team can replicate its success in the T20 format, building on their victories against top sides in the 50-over World Cup.
“I think we've done well in the past in the World Cup. We had a bit of a taste of that (winning against top sides) in the 50-over World Cup where we beat some top sides. I think we can do that in this format as well,” Trott said.
Looking beyond the current series, Afghanistan is scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka and Ireland for a Test, three T20Is, and as many ODIs in each nation.