Cricket player Jonathan Trott calls for Afghanistan to improve after they lose to Mohammed Nawaz's hat-trick against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, urging for adjustments.

Afghanistan, the second-best cricket team in Asia, will kick off their 2025 Asia Cup campaign against Hong Kong on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. The team, led by coach Jonathan Trott, has been preparing diligently for the tournament, aiming to make a strong start.

In a recent interview, Trott expressed his confidence in his team's ability to handle the pressure of the Asia Cup. He believes that with each big game, the team will become more accustomed to the pressure and will be able to "get across the line."

The team's form leading up to the Asia Cup has been a mixed bag. In the tri-series that preceded the Asia Cup, Afghanistan managed to win two games against UAE and trounced Pakistan in their second pool game. However, they came close to losing to UAE and suffered a defeat in the tri-series final, losing by 75 runs to the eventual winners.

Pakistan restricted Afghanistan to 66 all out in the 16th over in the tri-series final, with Mohammed Nawaz taking five wickets for 19 runs. The pitch in Sharjah, where the tri-series was played, assisted the spinners, with Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Muqeem also taking two wickets apiece.

Trott believes that the team needs to improve on their chasing skills, especially when conditions are spinning. He mentioned that no team has won any games while chasing in Sharjah due to the nature of the pitches. However, he is quick to point out that it is harsh to suggest that Afghanistan has failed under pressure in previous big fixtures.

The team's performances in important matches in bilateral series have shown their potential. Afghanistan has won games in such matches, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure.

The Asia Cup will see Afghanistan competing in Group B against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong. The team will play their group matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, where the pitches are generally more batsman-friendly than those in Sharjah.

The Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh match is scheduled for Tuesday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, while the fixtures against Sri Lanka and Hong Kong beyond the initial match are yet to be announced.

As Afghanistan prepares to face Hong Kong in their opening game, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the team can live up to their potential and make a strong start in the Asia Cup.

Cricket player Jonathan Trott calls for Afghanistan to improve after they lose to Mohammed Nawaz's hat-trick against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, urging for adjustments.