In what might be the most unexpected job listing in cricket history, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is on the hunt for a new head coach—and the requirements have left fans and experts scratching their heads. Alongside traditional expectations like tactical acumen and player development, the ACB has listed “a sense of humour” and “proficiency in Microsoft Office” as core competencies for the role .
Table of Contents
- The Bizarre Job Description That Broke the Internet
- Why Jonathan Trott Might Be Leaving
- Global Reaction: “Is This a Joke?”
- What a National Coach Actually Needs
From Fast Bowling to Formulas: The New Coaching Mandate
The official ACB job posting, shared on its website and LinkedIn, outlines a mix of conventional and eyebrow-raising criteria. While leadership, international experience, and knowledge of high-performance systems are expected, the inclusion of soft and administrative skills has drawn widespread attention.
Key requirements include:
- Proven coaching experience at the international level
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- A good sense of humour and ability to maintain team morale
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Willingness to work in Kabul under “dynamic conditions”
The emphasis on MS Office has sparked particular ridicule, with one cricket analyst dryly tweeting, “So the next coach must pivot-table Afghanistan’s batting collapse?” .
Jonathan Trott’s Exit: A Clash of Authority
The search for a new coach comes amid growing tensions between the ACB and current head coach Jonathan Trott, the former England batter. Sources close to Trott reveal he’s been increasingly frustrated by his lack of influence in key decisions—particularly squad selection and training schedules.
“He’s expected to win matches but isn’t consulted on who’s playing,” a team insider told Times of India. “How can a coach build a system when he’s not part of the building process?”
Trott, who took over in late 2023, has overseen Afghanistan’s rise in T20Is but struggled with inconsistent red-ball results. His contract ends in December 2025, and it’s now unlikely to be renewed.
“Is This a Joke?”: Cricket World Reacts
Within hours of the job posting going live, social media exploded. Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja wrote, “Next they’ll ask for TikTok editing skills.” Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle quipped, “At least they’re being honest—most coaches do spend half their time making presentations for board meetings.”
But beneath the jokes lies a serious concern: does this reflect a deeper administrative issue within the ACB? Cricket governance experts point out that in many emerging nations, coaches are often treated as “glorified assistants” rather than strategic leaders.
What a National Coach *Actually* Needs
Forget Excel—real coaching demands emotional intelligence, adaptability, and the ability to handle pressure-cooker environments like the one in Afghan cricket. With security concerns, limited infrastructure, and a squad full of raw but explosive talent (think Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Fazalhaq Farooqi), the role requires resilience far beyond PowerPoint slides.
Former Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore noted, “You need someone who can thrive in chaos, not just format a budget sheet.”
More Than a Meme—A Wake-Up Call?
While the “sense of humour” requirement might seem flippant, it could hint at a genuine need: Afghanistan’s team has faced immense personal and political turmoil. A coach who can lighten the mood and build psychological safety may be more valuable than one with a perfect CV.
Still, listing MS Office alongside tactical expertise blurs the line between administrative support and elite coaching. As one anonymous ACB official admitted, “Maybe the job description got copy-pasted from an office manager’s post.”
Whatever the truth, one thing’s clear: the next Afghanistan coach won’t just need to read the game—he’ll need to read a spreadsheet, too.