Richard Pybus at West Indies camp (AFP)
On Tuesday, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed the appointment of Richard Pybus as the new head coach of the men’s cricket team. The announcement comes only a few days after Afghanistan’s group stage exit from the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Richard Pybus is set to join a talented Afghanistan side, coming in as Jonathan Trott’s successor. Pybus's portfolio is backed by a rich experience.
That being said, in this article, we explore Pybus' unique "Optimal Performance" coaching and administration portfolio.
Who is Afghanistan's new head coach, Richard Pybus?
Born on July 5, 1964, and raised in the north-east of England, Richard Pybus's own sporting ambitions were cut short by a succession of injuries, forcing him to take up coaching while in his mid twenties. Pybus has an illustrated reputation as one of the most decorated strategists and coaches in the cricketing fraternity.
As per the publicly available information, Richard Pybus began his professional coaching career at Selborne College in East London, South Africa, from 1991 to 1995. He later transitioned to provincial cricket, taking charge of Border in South Africa, and subsequently coached major international teams.
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Pybus’ first international assignment came with Pakistan ahead of their 1999 World Cup campaign. In his maiden project with Pakistan, he led them to the final of the ICC tournament.
During the early 2000s, the Englishman coached multiple domestic sides in South Africa. During his tenure with the Titans, he had overseen his team's success in the MTN Domestic Championship over two seasons and was named the CSA (Cricket South Africa) Coach of the Year.
In May 2012, Pybus was named coach of Bangladesh, taking over from Stuart Law, but that was a short stint, as he resigned in October that year following disagreement over the terms of his contract. His next major assignment came a year later, when he was appointed the West Indies' director of cricket for a three-year period starting November 1, 2013.
With over 25 years of coaching elite teams and class performers, Pybus released a book names, 'Optimal Performance', in 2017.
West Indies’ “historic treble” of 2016 under Pybus
In 2016, the cricket fraternity of the West Indies witnessed a “historic treble”, where three different West Indian teams secured world titles in the same year: ICC Men's T20 World Cup (won in India), ICC Women's T20 World Cup (won in India), and ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup (won in Bangladesh).
This remarkable feat anchored Richard Pybus’ stature as one of the most highly rated cricket administrators across the globe.
Notably, this achievement remains the first and only instance in the history of international cricket in which a nation won three consecutive ICC titles across different categories.
Pybus to set the tempo for talent-packed Afghanistan step into a new era
Notably, his first assignment will see Pybus join the dressing room for a white-ball series against Sri Lanka starting March 13, 2026.
The 61-year-old brings a formidable resume to the table. However, it will be interesting to see whether Richard Pybus will be able to stabilise the talent-packed Afghanistan side, which has been struggling with the lack of consistency.
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