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Afghanistan's head coach Jonathan Trott has high hopes from UAE heading into Asia Cup 2025. Trott, who will be Gulf Giants' head coach in the ILT20, believes UAE will be the next team to make a real breakthrough on the international scene.
Jonathan Trott's big claim on UAE ahead of Asia Cup 2025
The former England's star batter also stated that the ILT20 is crucial for the future of cricket in the UAE. Trott praised the quality of talent he saw in the Development Tournament, where his team reached the semifinals. Trott believes the league is playing a vital role in raising the overall standard of the sport in the region.
“This is my first year with the Gulf Giants, and I’m very excited about that. Seeing all the local and natural talent is very good. Exciting times for us, certainly with the auction coming up, so a lot to get right. I’ve been very happy with the side we have in our development team, who have been playing some good cricket. And it’s always good to see what the other opposition teams are up to and the players that they have ahead of the auction,” Trott said, as quoted by Times Now.
The 44-year-old said that the ILT20 has already been a success, noting that the UAE has qualified for the Asia Cup for the first time in a decade. He believes this achievement is a direct result of the league's positive impact on the country's cricket landscape.
“I’m not surprised when I see the quality of cricket and quality of players here. The UAE side is already very good, and I think they’ll be the next team to make a real breakthrough on the international scene. They have the facilities, they have the desire and passion for the game, and they’re certainly not lacking in players. It’s a good recipe for success,” he added.
Trott also drew a parallel between the recent success of the UAE and the rise of Afghanistan in international cricket, suggesting a similar trajectory for both nations.
“Afghanistan is certainly a side that has benefited from franchise cricket. Their players got to work with the best coaches, play alongside the best players, and learn their habits on and off the field. The UAE players will now have the same advantage, seeing the likes of Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and other international stars up close. That can only be a huge benefit, and I’m excited to be part of it and roll up my sleeves with the Gulf Giants,” he concluded.
UAE and Afghanistan along with Pakistan are currently playing a tri-series after which they will start gearing up for the upcoming Asia Cup which is slated to start from September 9. UAE will start their Asia Cup campaign against India on September 10 before facing Oman and Pakistan on September 15 and September 17 respectively.
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