The Afghanistan Cricket Board has appointed Richard Pybus as the new head coach of the Afghanistan men’s national team. Pybus will take over from former coach Jonathan Trott, who resigned after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The board expressed its pleasure in welcoming Pybus, stating that he will lead the team for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka in March.
Pybus brings a wealth of coaching experience to the role, having previously served as a three-time ICC Cricket World Cup-winning head coach and director of cricket. He played a pivotal role in establishing high-performance systems across various teams. Notably, Pybus held coaching positions with the West Indies cricket team, where he achieved a historic treble in 2016 with victories in multiple ICC world titles.
During his tenure with the West Indies cricket team from 2013 to 2019, Pybus served as Head Coach, Director of Cricket, and Head of High Performance. He also coached the Pakistan cricket team, leading them to the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup final. Pybus has a strong track record in South African domestic and franchise cricket, securing nine championship titles, a national record. Additionally, he was recognized as the South African Cricket Coach of the Year on two occasions.
Known for his expertise in player development, Pybus has worked closely with renowned cricketers such as Mohammad Rizwan, Faf du Plessis, and Dale Steyn. Meanwhile, the Afghanistan cricket team faced a disappointing early exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, winning only two out of four matches in the initial round. The team was defeated by New Zealand and South Africa, who advanced to the Super 8s stage from the group.
