Cricket officials point to local coaching trust and structured preparation as decisive factors behind the team’s World Cup campaign.
Kabul | By Niaz Shinwari
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has identified reliance on domestic coaches and centralized preparation programs as central elements behind the Under-19 national team’s sustained competitiveness at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Speaking during an online meeting with players and technical staff, ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said the board’s continued confidence in local coaching expertise has produced consistent results at youth level, including multiple deep runs at global tournaments.
Ashraf linked recent performances to long-term planning, citing national training camps and exposure through bilateral series against Bangladesh and India as part of a development pathway designed to prepare players for high-pressure international competition.
Head coach Raees Ahmadzai said the team’s progression reflected not only technical growth but improved mental resilience. He noted that lessons from earlier defeats, including narrow losses at the Asia Cup, were incorporated into the World Cup preparation process to rebuild confidence and competitive discipline.
Ahmadzai emphasized the role of support staff, including trainers, medical personnel, analysts, and team management, describing their coordination as essential to sustaining performance levels across tournaments.
The Afghanistan Under-19 team’s campaign has renewed attention on domestic development structures at a time when broader national sports institutions face resource constraints and organizational pressure, underscoring the importance of continuity and internal capacity-building in elite youth sport.