Afghanistan’s newly appointed head coach Richard Pybus has made it clear that he has no reservations about operating in the country despite its ongoing political challenges.
International cricket has yet to resume in Afghanistan, largely due to the prevailing climate. As a result, overseas coaches have typically been stationed outside the country, linking up with the squad ahead of international assignments in the United Arab Emirates or India. Over the years, Greater Noida, Dehradun and Lucknow have hosted Afghanistan’s “home” fixtures, in addition to the UAE, where they currently stage their matches.
Cricbuzz had earlier reported that, unlike previous arrangements, the Afghanistan Cricket Board decided its new head coach and support staff would be required to work within Afghanistan. The move came as the board sought a successor to long-serving coach Jonathon Trott, who stepped down after the team’s campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup, bringing to an end a tenure of nearly four years.
When the ACB confirmed Pybus as the new head coach, questions were raised about whether he would be willing to stay in Afghanistan and carry out his duties there. Speaking to Cricbuzz on Wednesday, Pybus expressed enthusiasm about working across different provinces in the country.
“No (didn’t have any second thoughts about coming and working in Afghanistan). I don’t have any issues with it,” Pybus told this website as he prepares to take charge for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, scheduled from mid-March.
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“You know, I’ve lived in lots of different parts of the world and so I am fine with it,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to that and I’m really looking forward to coming and seeing the talent that is in the country,” he said.
“I’ve heard fantastic things about it (Afghanistan) and you know I love the fact that you’ve just got this really incredible cricket culture. I mean, to see the evolution of cricket within the country, how they’ve moved so quickly to be able to play at a level where they are equal to, and on their day better than, the top sides in the world,” he said.
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“We’ve seen that over the last couple of World Cups. And to have a look at this talent, you know, it’s quite exceptional,” he said.
“So, I’m looking forward to getting out into the provinces and being able to scout players and work with the selectors and get busy on the development of the players and that isn’t necessarily, you know, you’re not necessarily developing players when you’re in series,” he said.
“The development of the players is the work which you do behind the scenes outside of the series,” he said.
“The side’s really developed over a period of time so, as we would have seen at the last couple of World Cups, they’re a really serious cricket team now and so yeah very excited,” he said.
Pybus explained that his immediate priority will be building connections within the squad and understanding the overall player pool, which he believes will be crucial over time.
“So for now it’s getting to know the players, getting to know the leadership, settling with the team,” said Pybus.
“I need to get to know the players, I need to settle in with the leadership. You know, they’ve really, really developed into an excellent white-ball format team. There are the incumbents who are in the one-day side and the T20 side, but it’s also important to understand what is the talent below that.
“You know, you’re as good as the strength and depth in your system and so that’s going to be a really key focus,” he said.
“You can have critical injuries and then your side is weakened. So, strengthening up the depth, getting competition for spots, supporting the players who are there and helping to develop them, and really just getting an assessment of where the sides are at and where the system is at,” he added.
For now, Pybus is intent on beginning his tenure strongly as Afghanistan prepare for a white-ball series against Sri Lanka, consisting of three T20Is and three ODIs.
The T20I leg will open the series, with the first match scheduled for March 13 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The second and third T20Is will follow on March 15 and 17 at the same venue. The ODI contests will then move to Dubai, where fixtures are set for March 20, 22 and 25 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
“First and foremost getting our focus on that series (against Sri Lanka) as they’re an excellent white-ball side and we are looking to play excellent cricket,” he concluded.
