Afghanistan have experimented heavily with their top order, trying as many as 11 players at No. 3 since the start of the T20 World Cup 2024. Naib, returning to the position for the first time since the previous World Cup, made an immediate impact by anchoring the innings before shifting gears impressively. He handled the early pressure well, progressing from 18 off 16 balls to a half-century in just 29 deliveries. The team management even showed flexibility by pushing their most consistent batter, Sediqullah Atal, further down the order to accommodate Naib at No. 3.
“Without giving too many tactics away, I thought he plays well and that position suits him. Hopefully he can continue that. He’s looked in decent form. He didn’t get many runs in the series against the West Indies, but hopefully he’s starting to hit form now and can carry it through the rest of the tournament,” Trott said at the post-match press conference, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Naib’s familiarity with Indian conditions further bolsters Trott’s faith. In 2024, he enjoyed a productive stint at No. 3 during a three-match T20I series in India, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer with 112 runs from two innings at a strike rate exceeding 190. He also brings valuable experience from franchise cricket, having batted up the order for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 and captained the side in the Global Super League in Guyana.
“He’s a strong hitter of the ball and very experienced. He’s played a lot of cricket around the world and has been successful in India before. He enjoys batting here and these wickets suit him, so hopefully he can continue that form,” Trott added.
Afghanistan have also unearthed another promising middle-order option in Darwish Rasooli. The 26-year-old, who made his T20I debut four years ago, has recently hit a rich vein of form, scoring three consecutive half-centuries. His standout performance came last month in Dubai, where he struck a match-winning 84 off 59 balls against the West Indies.
“He’s been in and out of the squad, and we saw how well he played against the West Indies in Dubai. His form continued today and he solidifies the middle order nicely. Hopefully, like Gulbadin, he can continue that form at No. 5 and bring the power we know he has,” Trott said.
Trott also praised Rasooli’s development, crediting the coaching staff for their work behind the scenes. “I’m excited to see how he goes for the rest of the tournament. He’s developed well, and hopefully all the hard work pays off for him and the team,” he added.
On the bowling front, Afghanistan opted to leave out left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad, despite his strong performances for Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk during IPL 2025. While Trott was comfortable with the team selection on a grassy surface with visible cracks, he admitted the execution, particularly from the fast bowlers, fell short.
“We felt the cracks would offer some uneven bounce, and that proved right. The selection was correct, but we didn’t bowl well enough. The seamers, unfortunately, didn’t execute, and New Zealand’s batters put them under pressure,” Trott explained.
He also acknowledged the temptation of hindsight, noting that while Noor’s experience in Indian conditions was valuable, the pitch was relatively new and not expected to offer excessive turn. “Whenever you lose, you always feel you could have done a few things differently,” Trott concluded.
