What would you expect the team management to do before a crucial Super Eight clash with the semi-final berth up for grabs? Discuss strategy and formulate game plans? That is what any realistic head coach would contemplate. But not Jonathan Trott.

The former England opener and current Afghanistan coach, doesn’t follow such traditional ploys. Trott has shunned such conservative methods to get the best out of his unorthodox and versatile group.

His team were in the second round of the World Cup with three victories from Group C and Trott decided to have some fun at the team meeting in Bridgetown.

“Tomorrow is a step in the future where we want to be all the time. There’s nothing (to worry),” Trott said ahead of their first Super Eight game against India. “We have played against Australia and India before... We are ready to make that advance as a cricketing nation and you guys as individuals.

“To make sure you guys take the next step, I want you guys to look your best. I have organised some hair-dressers to come... I want the beards looking good,” he said amid peels of laughter.

Four days later, Trott’s message was simple. “Don’t be worried about achieving something that has never been done before,” he told the players ahead of their match versus Bangladesh on Monday.

Having gone through serious mental health issues during his playing career, Trott never wanted to put the players in a pressure-cooker situation or experience how the lethal grind of international cricket can unsettle the best of performers.

The results have been instant: Rashid Khan’s team have sealed their maiden entry into the World Cup semi-finals. They overpowered Bangladesh following their historic triumph against Australia two days ago.

Rashid shut his eyes once last-man Mustafizur Rahman was trapped in front by Naveen-ul Haq. He seemed to rewind in a flash his journey from the strife-torn Nangarhar province in Jalalabad to Peshawar and his rapid progress to stardom as one of the premier leg spinners in the world.

Rashid’s momentous journey through the various franchise leagues around the world has been the guiding light behind Afghanistan’s meteoric rise in world cricket. His 4/23 on Monday set up their defining victory, taking his tally to 14 in seven games.

Rashid’s feats have inspired a generation to dream and love the game. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi are all household names today, courtesy the franchise leagues. The exposure has had a far-reaching influence on their performance.

Brian Lara had rightly predicted Afghanistan’s journey and on Wednesday, they would meet South Africa at the stadium named after him in Trinidad. If they can be smarter in their approach, they have it in them to go beyond the semis.