“We will just check and see Rashid’s fitness and see how his back’s feeling” Jonathan Trott

Jonathan Trott, the head coach of Afghanistan, has said that he is doubtful whether Rashid Khan will play in the series decider against Sri Lanka on June 7 in Hambantota while Sri Lanka tied the series by defeating the visitors by a score of 132 runs on Sunday.

Jonathan Trott, the head coach of Afghanistan, has said that he is doubtful whether Rashid Khan will play in the series decider against Sri Lanka on June 7 in Hambantota. Sri Lanka tied the series by defeating the visitors by a score of 132 runs on Sunday.

Ahead of the series, Rashid was ruled out of the first two games due to a back issue but Trott said on Sunday that they will only decide on him only after evaluating his condition ahead of the third game.

“We will just check and see on his fitness and see how his back’s feeling and then you will know when the team is announced on Wednesday,”

Trott said regarding Rashid’s availability in the do-or-die game.

Trott highlighted Afghanistan’s poor start with the ball and the finish in which they let up too many runs as the main causes of their defeat. 

“I think we didn’t start well enough with the ball and throughout the middle overs we were consistent enough and obviously they have got in the last 10 overs 109 runs and so that’s not great,”

he said.

“When you lose a 50-over game by a margin of over 100 runs you didn’t do much right. So that’s where we are and that’s what we need to improve for the next game.

“We have a day off tomorrow and practice on Tuesday and obviously the game was on Wednesday and it’s about the process in this game and getting it flushed from the memory looking forward to the next game which will be I am sure a very good game,”

he said.

In the run chase, Trott believes Afghanistan was not proactive and failed to put pressure on the Sri Lankan attack. Afghanistan had only 144 runs on the board after the first 30 overs while chasing 324. “With the bat, we were obviously behind the rate,”

he said. 

“Chameera came and bowled pretty well and I think we allowed them to bowl well at certain times and perhaps didn’t put enough pressure back on the Sri Lankan bowlers when chasing that target and so that’s what we have got to work on for the next game.”