Afghanistan Cricket Soars High: How IPL Exposure Bred World Cup Success For Afghans

afghanistan cricket soars high: how ipl exposure bred t20 world cup success

Afghanistan's impressive showing in the T20 World Cup 2024 has surprised many. The team, known for their spirited performances, has displayed a newfound maturity and tactical nous. Head coach Jonathan Trott attributes much of this success to a key factor: exposure to high-pressure environments in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other global franchise tournaments.

The likes of Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi have all been regulars in the IPL and Trott has observed significant improvements in their performances after each stint.

“Well, I think the more exposure players have got to the IPL and different franchises where there’s pressure all the time in this format of the game, I think that’ll only do us well and serve us well going forward,” Trott said during the press conference before Afghanistan’s final Group C match against the West Indies.

"I know that the players – and we had a lot of players at the IPL every time they come back, I can see a little bit of a difference or a change every time they go away to franchise good and bad changes. It’s just about holding on to those good ones and making sure that we address things that need to be addressed,” Trott added.

“The guys are ready. We just had a really good training session. There was a lot of focus there. I know the boys take a lot of pride in representing their country. So tomorrow, we’ll be on it.”

Afghanistan will face formidable opponents in the Super 8 — India on June 20, Australia on June 22, and Bangladesh on June 24.