Shane McDermott Appointed Afghanistan's New Assistant and Fielding Coach

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Shane McDermott has been appointed as Afghanistan's new assistant and fielding coach, strengthening the team's coaching setup ahead of an important international assignment.

McDermott, 45, is scheduled to join the Afghanistan squad on August 1 as preparations begin for their five-match ODI series against Ireland. He will work alongside head coach Richard Pybus, who took over the role in February this year following the departure of Jonathan Trott.

A highly regarded fielding specialist, McDermott brings extensive international coaching experience to the Afghan camp. He previously served as Bangladesh's assistant fielding coach for three years before spending another three years in a similar role with Sri Lanka. Most recently, he was Pakistan's all-format fielding coach from July 2025 to July 2026. His departure from the Pakistan setup came as a surprise at the time.

Afghanistan will also usher in a new era in ODI leadership, with Rahmat Shah set to captain the side for the first time in the format during the Ireland series.

The five-match ODI series will begin in Bready, where the opening two matches will be played on August 5 and August 7. The teams will then travel to Belfast for the remaining three ODIs, scheduled for August 10, August 12, and August 15.

McDermott's appointment is expected to bolster Afghanistan's fielding standards as the team looks to build momentum under Pybus and prepare for upcoming international challenges.