Jonathan Trott Criticizes Trinidad Pitch Following Afghanistan’s Heavy Defeat in T20 World Cup Semifinal

In the wake of Afghanistan’s crushing loss to South Africa in the first semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, head coach Jonathan Trott did not mince words about the playing conditions at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Trott criticized the pitch, calling it unsuitable for such a high-stakes match and emphasizing the need for a fair contest.

The semifinal clash, held on Wednesday, June 26, saw Afghanistan collapse to their lowest ever T20 World Cup score, managing just 56 runs. The pitch at Trinidad, notorious for its uneven bounce and seam movement, proved to be a nightmare for Afghan batters. Marco Jansen struck early, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck, and continued to wreak havoc alongside teammates Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi. The Afghanistan team found themselves at a precarious 23/5 within the first five overs.