Afghanistan’s coach Jonathan Trott is keeping the celebration from their win over England short-lived. With a clear path to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals, the upcoming match against reigning world champions Australia is shaping up to be a crucial encounter for the Afghan team, almost a quarterfinal in its own right.

Following their remarkable performance at last year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Trott’s squad stands just one victory away from another semi-final appearance. This urgency is why he is ensuring that their celebrations are brief, as they must focus on preparing for the formidable Australian side.

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“I want them to enjoy tonight, but when they wake up tomorrow, the focus must be on Australia,” Trott expressed to the media following their intense win against England. He emphasized that preparation for the match against Australia should begin immediately.

Afghanistan’s recent performances mean they can no longer remain under the radar, a fact not lost on Trott. “Australia isn’t going to underestimate us,” he remarked, stressing the need for thorough preparation.

“In previous years, one might have thought facing Afghanistan would be an easier match compared to a historic Test nation, but that’s not the case anymore,” he added.

“Since I took over as coach, we’ve faced Australia three times, and we’ve been competitive in each game. We draw confidence from that. Following what we achieved in the T20 World Cup, I tell the players that Afghanistan will not be underestimated ever again.”

“I see every match we play as highly competitive, and I expect us to win every game,” he continued.

Trott has witnessed Afghanistan’s evolution into a competitive cricketing nation, highlighting their growth in resilience against top-tier teams.

“There’s a resilience about them,” he noted. “With increased experience and match awareness, particularly in batting and pacing the innings, we’re becoming more formidable. It’s often a collective effort, as seen with players like Ibrahim and Gurbaz, and we have impactful players like Gulbadin at number eight who can shift matches.”

“This self-belief is vital and is infectious, spreading throughout the squad.”

The upcoming match against Australia is essentially a quarter-final, with the victor securing a place in the semi-finals while the loser will be eliminated. With so much riding on the game, Trott is hopeful for robust support in Lahore.

“I hope Friday sees a packed crowd, with fans taking the day off work to come out and support us from 2 PM onwards. It’s a fantastic experience for the players, and nights like this will leave a lasting impression. We’ve had several memorable moments in ICC events and series that will bolster our confidence going into Friday’s match,” he expressed.