Afghan Coach Jonathan Trott Criticizes Pitch After Semi-Final Defeat

Afghan coach Jonathan Trott has blamed the pitch for their semi-final loss against South Africa. Trott expressed his dissatisfaction with the pitch used for the semi-final match, stating that it should have been more balanced for both teams. Afghan batters struggled against the South African pacers, being bowled out for just 56 runs.

The T20 World Cup matches at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad, have witnessed several low-scoring games with teams getting all out for 40, 78, and 95 runs. In the first semi-final, Afghanistan was bowled out for 56 runs. South Africa chased the target comfortably, winning by 9 wickets with 67 balls to spare, securing their spot in the final.

Rashid Khan's team's World Cup dream ended abruptly with this heavy defeat in the semi-finals. According to the Afghan head coach, the pitch for a semi-final match should provide equal opportunities for both teams. "No one would want a pitch like this for a semi-final," Trott remarked.

After the match, Trott stated, "I don’t want to get myself in trouble. I don’t want to say sour grapes either. But you wouldn’t want a pitch like that for a World Cup semi-final. Clearly, there should have been equal opportunities for both teams on the pitch."

"I am not saying the pitch should be completely flat with no spin or seam movement. But it should not be so difficult that batters are afraid and let the ball pass over their heads... T20 cricket is about scoring runs and taking wickets aggressively, not just about surviving."

"If the opposition bowls well and uses their skills to put you in a tough spot, they deserve credit. It's then about adapting. If we could bowl like South Africa did, you would have seen a different second half."

Trott also pointed out that their players did not get enough rest before the semi-final. He questioned the World Cup schedule, saying, "We returned to the hotel at 3 a.m. after a match, and then had to leave the hotel again at 8 a.m.—just a five-hour gap. So, the poor players were physically and mentally exhausted due to the lack of adequate sleep."