Pakistan’s newly-appointed interim coach, Aaqib Javed, has openly confessed that his priority right now is the ODI format and by extension, the Champions Trophy. Following a 3-0 clean sweep in T20Is by Australia, Aaqib said that they are testing new players in the format to strengthen the bench strength but aspire to persevere with the same players in the ODI format.
“Our main focus at the moment is on ODI cricket ahead of the Champions Trophy,” Aaqib said. “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.
When asked how he took the recent clean sweep, the interim head coach maintained that the Australian tour is never easy for the team and even winning the ODI series felt impossible, however, under the new captain the team showed its mettle and won the series after 22 years.
“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.” said Pakistan’s white-ball coach.
Besides being the coach, Aaqib Javed is also part of the five-member selection committee that is believed to have brought revolutionary changes to the side’s brand of play. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dissolved the then-selection committee after the team’s inning defeat against England in the first Test match. However, a new selection committee was formed immediately which oversaw the team winning the next two games. Pakistan’s red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, expressed his frustration with the new strategy that Pakistan adopted which allowed the selection committee to decide the playing XI without consulting the captain or coach. Aaqib, however, said that the playing XI is always announced after consulting everyone involved.
“We always consult the coach and captain, and then the selection committee announces the team,” Aaqib Javed said when asked about the reduction of captain and coach’s role in deciding the squads.
“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. Now, instead of Asad, it’ll be me, but the final XI will still be decided by the committee. The selection committee is not just me; it is a panel of five people.”
Being part of the staff in a cricket-mad country, Aaqib Javed knows that he is not spared from criticism.
“Criticism is inevitable and can be healthy. It is within a player’s control whether people praise or criticise him. That also goes for the team. Criticism and praise all depends on your performance. I’ll be the first one to accept criticism if merited.”
Pakistan team have departed for Zimbabwe for the white-ball tour which will begin on November 24. The men in green will play three ODIs and T20Is before flying to South Africa.
