Richard Pybus appointed Afghanistan head coach, set to begin tenure with Sri Lanka white-ball series

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has appointed England-born Richard Pybus as the new head coach of the national team across all formats. He is set to take charge ahead of Afghanistan’s upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka in the UAE next month. Pybus replaces Jonathan Trott, who stepped down after a three-year stint following the team’s T20 World Cup campaign.

Although Pybus’ playing career was brief, he featured in just one List A match for Suffolk in 1986 due to recurring injuries, he has built an extensive and respected coaching résumé around the world. He first rose to prominence as Pakistan’s head coach from 1999 to 2003, a period that included their run to the final of the 1999 ODI World Cup. His tenure was marked by a focus on discipline and structured preparation.

In 2013, Pybus had a short spell as Bangladesh’s head coach. He later spent six years, from 2013 to 2019, in various roles with the West Indies, including director of cricket, high-performance expert, and eventually head coach. During this period, he was credited with helping to rebuild systems and introduce long-term planning. Pybus has also worked in domestic cricket, including stints with Middlesex in England and with Border and the Titans in South Africa.

His wealth of international and developmental experience could prove vital for Afghanistan, who endured a disappointing group-stage exit at the ongoing T20 World Cup. They were placed in what was widely described as the ‘group of death’, and suffered defeats to New Zealand and South Africa in their opening matches. The loss to the Proteas came in a dramatic contest that required two Super Overs. Although they registered comfortable wins over Canada and the UAE, the early setbacks ultimately ended their campaign.

Pybus will officially join the squad in March in the UAE, where Afghanistan are scheduled to play Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series followed by three T20Is from March 13 to 25. The ACB will hope his experience can guide the team toward greater consistency and renewed success on the international stage.