Jonathan Trott (Afghanistan Head Coach) Pre-Match Media Conference Transcript | SL v AFG | T20 World Cup 2022

Monday, 31 October 2022

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The Gabba

Afghanistan

Coach Jonathan Trott

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. Obviously you have had a washout in Melbourne. Tomorrow you come to Brisbane and there's also an expectation of showers. How are you preparing yourself? How's the mood in the camp, you know?

JONATHAN TROTT: The guys are prepared to be adaptable, which we were, I think, in Melbourne when we were ready for the (indiscernible) of the game, and it was the case and it could be the same tomorrow. The forecast says it's really only going to rain in the morning. So that helps us with the (indiscernible) and draining really well as it does.

We know in Brisbane, when it does rain, it does rain a lot. They're forecasting quite a lot of rain in the morning, but will clear-up in the afternoon. So hopefully you'll get a full game and an ability -- and an ability or an opportunity to get some points.

Q. Is Zazai picked for tomorrow's game? I think there was news about him being injured. My second question is teams like Afghanistan, they wait for years to play big teams in the World Cup. When they come this the World Cup, their game is abandoned. Only in the games so far I think there's been eight teams who has at least one game abandoned or announced without result. Afghanistan has the most, two of their games have been announced without results. And tomorrow's game is also with a forecast. Do you think these games should be rescheduled, especially if there's more than one, like Afghanistan's situation? Is it fair for the team to have more than one game abandoned in these kind of events?

JONATHAN TROTT: There's so many things that go on behind the scenes to organize games and schedule them and hospitality and all sorts of security that's organised. To reschedule games is a real headache. (Indiscernible). I said the frustration was there's an indoor stadium down the road, but to be able to move things around is a huge operation. So to understand the size and the things that go on is really difficult to have, or change things last minute.

Those things need to be in place way before. So that's not an option. It's not even really worth thinking about it at the moment. It is disappointing. Had two rainouts. We need to be able to focus on tomorrow's game and put that behind us. It's unfortunate, obviously teams like Afghanistan you want them playing on the big stage as much as possible, exposed to the pressure. (No audio).

... for players to develop and grow. So that is disappointing, but we have to move on. With regards to Cesar [phonetic], he's been assessed now and we'll have some news a little bit later I think with regards to his availability.

Q. My question was more about future events or future games, because a few years and then you have at least two or more games abandoned. I don't think it's fair for players, especially for teams like Afghanistan who don't get that opportunity more often. They haven't played let's say New Zealand either in World Cups?

JONATHAN TROTT: I think there's opportunity there to have reserve days or whatever especially when you're playing in you would say sort of the spring or the rainy season in places. That's a possibility. But everything's hindsight and we're not at all saying that's the case (indiscernible). It's about looking forward now and making sure that we focus on tomorrow's game and hopefully putting ourselves in contention for the Australia match to drive through.

Q. And for tomorrow's game, the team haven't played, I think, in the past five, six days. Do you think that will have some sort of effect on them for tomorrow's game, or the game after?

JONATHAN TROTT: No, I don't think so. I think certainly we'll be fresh. We will have a lot of energy going into the game. So it's exciting times. We've played in a pretournament game, had the experience, the guys are looking forward to that it's a great stadium. And we had over two weeks preparing here in Brisbane. It's a little bit warmer now than it was when we were here preparing for the tournament. This is Brisbane and looking forward to it.

Q. Will we see players, the new players, the players like Saleem (indiscernible) and get a chance to play in this World Cup and in the games?

JONATHAN TROTT: When the team selects, when the team's announced, you'll be the first to know.

Q. Afghanistan are in hunting a fast bowler. But maybe it's diligent for you to produce fast bowler for Afghanistan. Do you think Afghanistan will have the ability about fast bowlers?

JONATHAN TROTT: Yeah, I think so. Very exciting. Hopefully we can see a few more (indiscernible). You can see, obviously the likes of Farooqi, obviously very skillful and bowls with good pace. It's a new ball. We'll be looking towards him tomorrow with regards to taking hopefully a few of the power plays in the game for us.

And I think Saleem has come in, has been impressive the way he gets set and bowls with the pace he has the first time had eyes on him. So very impressed. Again, with Fareed and Saleem, the skill of those guys, it's great. Good headaches to have with selection.