Aaqib Javed, Pakistan’s newly appointed white-ball head coach, has addressed concerns regarding his dual role as coach and member of the selection committee. With two decades of coaching experience at both national and international levels, Javed downplayed any potential conflicts, stating that his extensive experience equips him to handle the responsibilities effectively.
Javed responded to a journalist’s query about his past criticism of Misbahul Haq’s dual role, explaining that the circumstances were different back then. “I have 20 years of experience coaching at both national and international levels,” he said, adding that the current setup is different from what it was when Misbah held the same role.
The former fast bowler clarified that while the coach consults with the captain and offers recommendations, the final decisions on the playing XI rest with the selection committee. “There are five to six members in the selection committee, and decisions are made unanimously. I am not the only selector,” he noted. Javed also mentioned that his appointment as interim head coach is valid until the 2025 Champions Trophy, and he intends to give his best in this role.
Aaqib Javed replaced Jason Gillespie, who had been serving as interim head coach. Under Gillespie, Pakistan achieved a historic 3-0 ODI series win against Australia, but Javed now faces the challenge of continuing that momentum.
Looking ahead to Pakistan’s upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, Javed emphasized his goal of establishing a stable and consistent squad ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which will be hosted by Pakistan. “My aim is to build a settled squad for the 2025 tournament, particularly in the ODI format,” he said, while noting that there would be more experimentation with new players in the T20I format. “How can we improve bench strength without giving new players the opportunity to prove themselves?” he added.
Javed also praised the Pakistan team under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, particularly for their historic 2-1 ODI series win against Australia in Australia. “This was the first time in 22 years that Pakistan won an ODI series in Australia,” he noted, crediting Rizwan and the team for their performance.
As he prepares to travel to Zimbabwe for the upcoming ODI series against the hosts, which begins on November 24, Javed expressed confidence in the team’s future prospects.
