Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott provided an unexpected dose of humour during his pre-match press conference ahead of their Asia Cup 2025 clash with Bangladesh at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Asked whether Bangladesh would feel the pressure going into the contest, Trott confidently replied that they would—before cheekily adding that Bangladesh had “already won the Asia Cup.”

The comment left the room in splits, as Bangladesh have never lifted the trophy in their history. A journalist quickly corrected Trott, who playfully responded with repeated “Are you sure?” questions, as though someone had just challenged a fact from a history book.

Even Afghanistan’s media manager had to step in, but Trott stuck to his claim for a while, insisting, “I thought they won the 50-over Asia Cup!” Only after a quick check did he concede, with a sheepish smile, “I really thought they were champions.”

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While Bangladesh are yet to win the tournament, they have come close on several occasions. Their first shot at glory came in the 2012 final, where they fell heartbreakingly short by just two runs against Pakistan. In 2016, during the T20 edition, India denied them the title, before repeating the feat in a thrilling last-ball finish in the 2018 final at Dubai.

Moving past his lighthearted slip-up, Jonathan Trott acknowledged Bangladesh’s strength, noting that they possess genuine match-winners capable of turning games on their day. He also highlighted the benefit of Afghanistan’s week-long break after their opening win against Hong Kong.

“This break has allowed us to recharge mentally and physically, especially with the extreme heat. It’s given us the chance to reset, assess where we are, and prepare strongly,” Jonathan Trott explained.

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The stakes could not be higher. A win for Afghanistan on Tuesday will confirm their place in the Super Four, while Bangladesh’s qualification remains uncertain. Their fate may ultimately hinge on the Afghanistan-Sri Lanka clash and how the net run rate plays out. As Afghanistan look to ride their momentum and Bangladesh aim to break their finals curse, Trott’s amusing press conference ensured the build-up had its fair share of laughter before the serious business begins.