 "Jonathan Trott and Ajay Jadeja")
A video of Ajay Jadeja, former India cricketer and currently the mentor of the Afghanistan team in the ICC World Cup 2023 went viral in which he said in chaste Hindi that the day Afghanistan beats a big team in World Cup, people won't call them a minnows anymore. Well, not just one, but the Afghans have defeated three big teams in their first six matches and all those wins have been big victories, showing exemplary improvement of the team from the Hindukush.
golden word for Afghanistan by ajay jadeja . #AFGvsPAK pic.twitter.com/jMaeDnayft
— Bii2 (@realbii2) October 23, 2023
However, Ajay Jadeja is not the only man behind this success, other men of notable repute have since worked out a method which has managed to bring out the true potential of this team full of talented cricketers. The entire ensemble cast however has been with the team since 2022 only.
Jonathan Trott - Head Coach
More From This Section
The head coach of the team, Englishman Jonathan Trott has always remained at the forefront, taking all the questions and keeping the Afghan pride ahead in all press conferences in this World Cup. A South African by birth, an Englishman as a cricketer and now an Afghan coach via stints as a member of the coaching staff of Scotland, Trott is probably the right man to understand how it feels to finally get to where you belong.
Also Read: It's not just cricket: Trott reveals AFG's motivation after historic win
Also Read: It's not just cricket: Trott reveals AFG's motivation after historic win
He has guided the Afghans full of talent to where they are now. After the debacles of the 2023 Asia Cup, they worked hard before finally earning their first win against England and have since not looked behind, winning matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka and dropping only one game against New Zealand.
Trott as a player was also balanced and calculated, representing England in 52 Testst, 62 ODIs and 7 T20Is. This he did after representing the Proteas in age-group cricket and realising sooner that the quota system might not get him the right opportunities thus moving to England. A top-order batter with more than 6700 international runs and 13 centuries, Trott was rock-solid in defence and has remained the same as a coach as well.
— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) October 30, 2023
Hamid Hassan- Bowling coach
A former Afghani fast bowler, who rubbed shoulders with current players like Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Hashamtullah Shahidi among others, Hamid Hassan knows how to guide his players. The Afghan took over from Umar Gul as the bowling coach in March 2023. 36-year-old Hassan knew what it was to get close but not win a World Cup match. But now as a coach, the man who took 94 international wickets in 63 matches has tasted three wins in nine matches.
Raees Ahmadzai- Assistant coach
Check ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 full schedule here
Having played his cricket in the times when Afghanistan was not even an associate member to now coaching them when they are full members and beating full members of the ICC regularly, assistant coach Raees Ahamadzai has come a long way alongside Afghanistan.
Having played his cricket in the times when Afghanistan was not even an associate member to now coaching them when they are full members and beating full members of the ICC regularly, assistant coach Raees Ahamadzai has come a long way alongside Afghanistan.
At first, he was involved as a player, playing five ODIs and eight T20Is between 2009 and 2010, Ahmadzai has seen the growth of Afghan cricket from close quarters. He was appointed as advisor to the selection committee in 2012 and then moved up the ranks of the coaching staff from assistant to the coaches to now being an assistant coach. He also doubles up as batting coach alongside newly appointed mentor Jadeja.
Ryan Maron- Fielding coach
Check ICC Cricket World Cup latest news updates here
This is the second stint of the South African Maron as Afghanistan fielding coach. Maron, who did not succeed as an opening batter and could feature in only 18 First-Class matches back home for Western Province, has previously worked as a fielding coach for the West Indies and Dolhpins, a domestic South African side.
Ajay Jadeja- Mentor
Jadeja, who has massive experience of playing at the highest level and is funny, and energetic and enjoys what he does is an instant hit among the Afghan cricketers.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, opening batter of Afghanistan while speaking in the mixed zone after the England game, which was the first win for Afghanistan in this World Cup, said, "He (Jadeja) is a man who always gives happiness to you. He's made cricket easy for us. He always says just go and enjoy. We love him, and he is someone special for us. He tells us to keep things simple, and just go and enjoy. That's the most important tip for us.”
Jadeja's cricketing career was marred by the match-fixing controversy during the prime of his career where he had played 196 ODIs and 15 Tests. He played his last ODI in 2000 having made his debut in 1992. Just 8 years of international cricket and he was a household name.
Check ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 points table here
He tried his career in movies before returning to domestic cricket to try and return to the Indian team. However, that never materialised and he turned into a coach for the Delhi team before becoming a commentator and TV expert. He joined the Afghan team just ahead of this World Cup.
He tried his career in movies before returning to domestic cricket to try and return to the Indian team. However, that never materialised and he turned into a coach for the Delhi team before becoming a commentator and TV expert. He joined the Afghan team just ahead of this World Cup.
