Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott expressed hopes that his team's historic run in the T20 World Cup, despite ending in a heavy semi-final defeat on Wednesday, will inspire young Afghans to take up cricket.
In a match against South Africa, Afghanistan was bowled out for a mere 56 runs off 11.5 overs, leading to a nine-wicket loss at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
South Africa's decisive victory secured their spot in the final, where they will face either India or defending champions England. Trott, reflecting on the performance, acknowledged that his team struggled under the pressure of their first World Cup semi-final. However, he remained immensely proud of their overall achievement.
"A lot to process really emotionally, physically, so all new territory for the guys and it all plays its part," said Trott, a former England batsman of South African origin, who admitted his side had been "outplayed."
Trott expressed optimism that his players would learn from this experience, emphasizing the importance of understanding what it takes to compete at the highest level of international cricket. "We’ve found ways of winning games, we just couldn’t find a way today," he noted, acknowledging the disappointment but also highlighting the team’s significant accomplishments.
Reflecting on the semi-final loss, Trott said, "Obviously it hurts at the moment. We arrived at the ground in high spirits, ready to take on a strong South African side and make sure we gave a good account of ourselves. I feel like we haven’t done that today, so that’s the most disappointing thing."
Despite the crushing defeat, Trott praised his team's remarkable journey in the tournament. Afghanistan's World Cup run included stunning victories over cricketing powerhouses New Zealand, Australia, and a nerve-wracking win against Bangladesh to reach the semi-finals. This remarkable performance has brought moments of joy and pride to a nation plagued by decades of war and ongoing economic, humanitarian, and political crises.
"I hope that we’ve inspired young kids to pick up a bat and a ball and play cricket, and want to play for their nation and hopefully that everybody’s proud of the side," Trott remarked, hopeful that Afghanistan's spirited campaign would encourage the next generation of cricketers.
