Afghanistan Appoints Richard Pybus as Head Coach After Trott’s Exit

Afghanistan has appointed Richard Pybus as head coach after Jonathan Trott’s exit, bringing in the former Pakistan and West Indies coach with extensive international experience.

Afghanistan named Richard Pybus as head coach on Tuesday following Jonathan Trott’s departure after the team’s group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup 2026. The 61-year-old brings extensive international experience to the role.

Pybus previously led Pakistan and guided them to the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup final. He later held senior roles with Bangladesh in 2013. From 2013 to 2019, he worked with the West Indies as head coach, director of cricket and high-performance chief. He built the system that supported a historic 2016 treble, when the men’s, women’s and U19 teams won ICC world titles in the same year.

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In South Africa’s domestic and franchise circuit, teams under his guidance won nine championships, a national record. He also earned South African Cricket Coach of the Year honours twice.

Afghanistan turns to Pybus as they begin rebuilding after the 2026 tournament exit. He is set to link up with the team before the white-ball series against Sri Lanka, which begins next month.