T20 World Cup 2026: 'We've got to stay positive' - Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott remains hopeful of reaching Super 8 despite back-to-back losses

Afghanistan took South Africa to their limit in the T20 World Cup clash on Wednesday, February 12, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, in the end, they ended up giving away two points.

The game had twists and turns till the very end. Afghanistan had the game in the bank at one point, with two runs needed off the last three balls. However, Fazalhaq Farooqi got run out at the non-striker's end while trying to complete a double. The Blue Tigers were bowled out for 187, the same score the Proteas had posted in the first innings.

Two Super Overs later, South Africa emerged victorious as Afghanistan slumped to back-to-back defeats at the start of their T20 World Cup campaign. Now, Rashid Khan's men will have to win their next two games and hope other results go their way in order to secure progression to the Super-Eight stage of the competition.

Afghanistan's head coach Jonathan Trott, whose term will come to an end after this tournament, said that he is proud of his players for the fight they showed till the end against the Proteas. The game had an uncanny similarity with Trott's tenure with the Asian side, where hope and agony never left each other's side. The former England batter, however, stated that the players need to remain positive despite the setbacks.

"I think that was a great snapshot. I'd prefer to talk about it (his time in charge) when it's done than talk about it now. We've still got two important games and I respect the side and the job, but also the two games we've got coming up are important as well. I don't think it's time to start talking about when I'm not in the position when I am still in the position. I'd like to make sure I get that right and that we get it right. Hopefully this group can surprise a few people and we get a few losses somewhere along the line and we get ourselves back in. We've got to stay positive," Trott said in the post-match press conference.