Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has appointed England-born Richard Pybus as new head coach of senior men’s team. Announced on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Pybus replaces Jonathan Trott, whose tenure concluded following Afghanistan’s group-stage exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.
Pybus is widely recognized as one of the most decorated strategists in world cricket, specifically for his unprecedented achievement of overseeing three ICC World Cup wins in a single calendar year.
“Historic Treble” of 2016
Pybus’s reputation is anchored in his tenure as Director of Cricket for West Indies (2013–2019). In 2016, he managed high-performance systems that led to a historic “treble,” where three different West Indian teams secured world titles in the same year:
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (won in India)
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup (won in India)
ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup (won in Bangladesh)
This remains the first and only time in the history of international cricket that a single nation has held three world titles simultaneously across different categories.
Wealth of Experience
The 61-year-old brings a formidable resume to the Afghan dressing room:
He famously guided Pakistan to the final of the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, where they finished as runners-up. Pybus is credited with the early development of modern stars like Mohammad Rizwan and Faf du Plessis, as well as helping legendary pacer Dale Steyn reach his peak.
He holds a South African record for winning nine championship titles across domestic and franchise cricket.
Road Ahead for Afghanistan
Pybus’s first assignment will be a white-ball series against Sri Lanka in UAE, starting in March 2026. His primary goal will be to stabilize a talented but inconsistent Afghan unit that struggled during the current T20 World Cup, managing only two wins and failing to reach the Super 8s.
With his background in building “Optimal Performance Systems” – the subject of his 2022 Doctorate – Pybus is expected to bring a more disciplined and data-driven approach to Rashid Khan-led side.
