Jonathan Trott Appointed Head Coach of Pretoria Capitals in SA20

Jonathan Trott has been named the new head coach of the Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 league, succeeding Graham Ford, who departed from the position last month.

Trott currently serves as the head coach of Afghanistan, a role he has held since 2022, with his contract extended to the end of 2024. However, there is some uncertainty about whether the 43-year-old will continue in this role. Since the SA20 is scheduled for January 2025, it does not directly conflict with his international duties. It remains unclear if Trott will renew his Afghanistan contract, which expires in December.

The Capitals are undergoing a broader restructuring, highlighted by the departure of Ricky Ponting, ending his seven-year stint with the Delhi franchise. The decision to part ways with Ford came after a challenging second season, where the team won only three matches and finished fifth. In the first edition of the competition in 2023, they were runners-up after leading the table.

Trott's tenure with Afghanistan has been marked by significant improvements in their performance at international events. Despite their inherent talent in shorter formats, the team had won just one match in an ICC tournament—both 50-over and T20—before defeating Australia, England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Bangladesh in the last nine months during the 2023 ODI and 2024 T20I World Cups. Afghanistan reached the semi-finals of the latter, where they were defeated by South Africa.

Trott is also reportedly considered for England's limited-overs coaching position, though he is viewed as a long shot. A decision regarding the future of current head coach Matthew Mott is expected soon. Trott, who earned 127 caps for England, has also coached the England Under-19 and Lions teams and is currently an assistant coach for the Trent Rockets in the men's Hundred tournament.