Afghanistan head coach Raees Ahmedzai feels the national side is settling into Richard Pybus’s fresh coaching approach as the squad gears up for an upcoming tour of India. Raees, who has previously worked extensively with Afghanistan’s Under-19 players, was part of the group that ran a training camp in Kabul ahead of the trip. The camp was overseen by Pybus, who has taken over as Afghanistan’s head coach after the departure of long-serving Jonathon Trott.
Raees described the preparation as productive, saying the team spent a strong stretch in Kabul and then played three three-day matches in Jalalabad. He also pointed to the players’ comfort with Pybus’s new plans. “We had a very good camp in Kabul, and we played three three-day matches in Jalalabad. The players are enjoying the time with the new coach Pybus, who has arrived with new ideas and a clear strategy,” Raees said.
He added that Afghanistan’s players understand their responsibilities within a professional setup, and suggested Pybus’s opening assignment—leading the team in a Test match followed by three ODIs versus a formidable Indian side—will serve as a significant challenge. “As a professional, everyone knows their role—how to play and how to move forward. I think it will be a good challenge for Pybus to start: a Test match and three ODIs as head coach of Afghanistan against a strong Indian team,” Raees said.
Managing Rashid Khan’s absence
Raees believes replacing Rashid Khan for Afghanistan’s one-off Test against India will be a tough task, but he is confident that the spin group led by Qais Ahmad, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Nangeyalia Kharote has the ability to step up. Rashid was left out of the Test squad due to an injury that limits his ability to bowl long spells, though he remains part of Afghanistan’s shorter-format series.
Speaking on the impact of missing Rashid, Raees said the void will be significant because of the leg-spinner’s reputation and influence in Test cricket. “The absence will be hard to fill because Rashid is a well-known cricketer around the world. He has been very successful in the Test matches he played and he played a big role in all the wins for Afghanistan in Test cricket,” Raees said.
He also highlighted how the situation creates an opportunity for younger players to demonstrate their skills and handle the pressure of international opposition. “So, the team will miss him. It is a good opportunity for the youngsters to show their talent and how they will represent the country against strong teams,” Raees added.
Raees further expressed faith in Afghanistan’s wider pool of spin options, stressing that while they will try to cover for Rashid, it will not be straightforward. “Afghanistan have lots of good spinners. They are very talented, and I’m sure they will cover the part of Rashid. They will try, but this will not be easy for them. It’s a good challenge for them as well as it’s a good opportunity. There will be pressure on these guys,” he concluded.
