'We are not the 2nd best in Asia'- Afghanistan coach says after their series loss in AFG vs BAN T20I series

After a heartbreaking Asia Cup 2025 campaign, Afghanistan was whitewashed by Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series. After the last match of the series, Afghanistan cricket team coach Jonathan Trott acknowledged that they are not the second-best team in Asia. 

Last night, at the Sharjah Cricket Ground, Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by 6 wickets and 12 balls to spare. They chased down the 144-run target with ease. Before the match, Bangladesh was already leading the 3-match series by 2-0, which made the third and the last match for the home team a prestige fight. There too, the Afghanistan cricket team was unable to find the way to bounce back. 

For the last few years, the Afghanistan cricket team has been considered the dark horse in various ICC events, especially in T20I tournaments. On social media, a part of cricket fans also claimed the Rashid Khan-led team as the second-best team of the continent. But back-to-back setbacks gave them a reality check. 

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Statements of Afghanistan coach after the defeat against Bangladesh 

Accepting the reality, Trott, without any hesitation, said that they are not the second-best cricket team in Asia. He is well aware of the speculations and claims on social media platforms labelling him as one of the best in the cricket world. But the former England cricketer and now Afghanistan cricket team coach opined that at present, they are not the second best in Asia. 

"As it stands right now, we obviously are not the second-best team in Asia. So, I think all sorts of social media and media speculations are not accurate. All we've got to do is get better," Jonathan Trott said after the 0-3 whitewash against Bangladesh in the 3-match T20I series.