Aaqib Javed. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Aaqib Javed, who is the newly appointed white ball coach of Pakistan on an interim basis came forward and talked about how the side is completely focusing on ODI cricket ahead of the latest edition of the Champions Trophy in 2025. He also talked about how he wants to observe the team’s strengths in the T20I format as well.
It is worth noting that Javed has been appointed Pakistan’s white ball coach until the end of the Champions Trophy, and he is all set to fly out with the team for their upcoming assignment against Zimbabwe.
“Our main focus at the moment is on ODI cricket ahead of the Champions Trophy. You’ll see a settled team in this format. You’ll see changes in the T20I format. We plan to give new players chances in the Zimbabwe series. It is a message and opportunity to the new players to take the chances they’ve been given. If you don’t give new players chances, you’ll never get the opportunity to improve your bench strength,” Javed was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
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“Australia has never been an easy tour. When the team went, if we had said we were going to win the series, people would have thought it impossible. Under the new captain [Mohammad Rizwan], they showed the world they could do it after 22 years [by winning 2-1]. They also had chances in the three T20Is, but if you don’t avail your chances, you won’t win,” he added.
It is interesting to note that Aaqib Javed has witnessed a historic rise in the ranks in Pakistan Cricket. In the summer of 2024, Javed was the fast bowling coach of Sri Lanka, and he was nominated to Pakistan’s selection committee very recently.
The PCB also recently came forward and confirmed that Javed would be keeping his position on the selection committee during his stint as the white ball coach. Talking about the same, Javed laid out the responsibilities as the coach.
“We always consult the coach and captain, and then the selection committee announces the team, from Multan until now, there has been consistency in selection. Asad Shafiq was on the Australia tour. His role was to discuss selection with the coach and captain, and present a final team, which would be discussed by the selection committee, who make the final decision,” Javed said.