Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott hopes Sunday’s World Cup win over England will “encourage boys and girls” to take up cricket even though the country’s Taliban rulers ban women from playing sport. The 69-run victory will be regarded as one of the biggest shocks in the history of the tournament as Afghanistan ended a 14-match World Cup losing streak.
“It’s not just cricket that the guys are playing for,” said Trott, who recognised the significance of a win for a nation reeling from recent earthquakes and the Taliban’s fractious international relations.
“The guys are very knowledgeable of the things and the hardship that some people are going through because of the natural disaster and for various other reasons.
“And so, if this can give a smile to people’s faces but also encourage boys and girls to pick up a cricket bat or a cricket ball and get playing cricket wherever they are in Afghanistan, then that’s the sort of the goal that’s been achieved.” Before Sunday, Afghanistan had only won one match at the World Cup when they defeated Scotland on their 2015 debut.
The result left both sides with a win and two losses each after three games of the 10-nation tournament.
“This win is significant, certainly in the manner and by the margin as well,” added Trott.
“There’s a lot of confidence that will hopefully come from this, it’ll have a knock-on effect to all the other games, but not only in this World Cup, but for the future as well.”
Trott knows all about World Cup shocks. In 2011, he was part of the England team humbled by Ireland in Bengaluru despite him scoring 92.
