Afghanistan name new head coach following Jonathan Trott's exit
What's the story
Richard Pybus has been appointed as the new head coach of the Afghanistan national cricket team. He replaces Jonathan Trott, who stepped down after a disappointing run in the Men's T20 World Cup. Under Trott's leadership, Afghanistan failed to progress to the Super 8 stage of the tournament. Pybus will now lead the team in an upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka in March.
Coaching career
Pybus's extensive coaching experience
Pybus has a rich coaching history, having previously served as the head coach of Pakistan and the West Indies. He was instrumental in taking Pakistan to the final of the 1999 Cricket World Cup. His tenure with Pakistan also saw him guide individual players like Mohammad Rizwan. Later, he was involved with West Indies cricket in various capacities, including Director of Cricket starting in 2013 and later as High Performance Director in 2018. During his involvement, he oversaw their historic treble in 2016 when men's, women's and U19 teams won ICC World Cups in a year.
Academic achievements
Academic qualifications and achievements
Apart from his coaching stints, Pybus is also known for his academic prowess. He holds a Doctorate in Professional Practice from Middlesex University, London, which he earned in 2022 for his research on the "Optimal Performance System." This is a model aimed at achieving consistent success across different high-performance environments. He also has a postgraduate degree from the University of Greenwich and an honors degree from Portsmouth University.
Upcoming challenge
Upcoming series against Sri Lanka
Pybus's first task as the head coach of Afghanistan will be to lead them in a white-ball series against Sri Lanka in the UAE. The series starts with a three-match T20I series in Sharjah from March 13, followed by a three-match ODI series in Dubai starting March 20. This will be an important test for Pybus as he takes over the reins of Afghan cricket.