LAHORE: Aaqib Javed, the recently appointed national selector and interim white-ball head coach by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has dismissed concerns about his dual role. Speaking at a media briefing at the Gaddafi Stadium, Aaqib emphasized that his primary focus is on One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Experience Overlaps Responsibilities
Extensive Coaching Experience
Aaqib highlighted his extensive coaching experience at both domestic and international levels over the past 20 years. He explained that the dual roles are manageable due to his deep understanding of the game and its demands.
“There is a slight difference in the reality. There is a thing called experience. I have been coaching for the last 20 years at domestic and international level. While defining the double role, when I took up the position as [national] selector we always consulted the captain and the coach before announcing the best side,”
No Significant Changes in Team Selection
Aaqib noted that there have been no significant changes in the team selections from the Multan Test against England to the three-match ODI series in Australia.
“The team which played the Multan Test was retained for the Rawalpindi Test. Similarly, the team which played the first ODI against Australia was kept same for the next two matches. So I don’t think there is any problem because our objective is to select the best team for Pakistan.”
Previous Criticisms of Dual Roles
Interestingly, Aaqib has previously criticized the dual roles assigned to former Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and ex-pace bowler Wahab Riaz. Despite this, he now finds himself in a similar position, which he believes he can manage effectively.
Building a Winning Team
Recent Successes
Aaqib, who replaced Gary Kirsten as the white-ball coach, stressed his responsibility to build a team capable of achieving desired results. He pointed to Pakistan’s recent successes, such as the unexpected victory in the ODI series in Australia after 22 years, as evidence of positive outcomes from his selection decisions.
“We beat England [in the home Test series] and then no one could imagine that Pakistan would win the ODI series in Australia after 22 years. I think there are many positives for us as far as [team] selection is concerned. Coaching is also not a new thing for me,”
Focus on ODI Cricket and ICC Champions Trophy
Aaqib reiterated that his primary focus is on ODI cricket, with particular attention to the ICC Champions Trophy. He mentioned that regular changes would be seen in the T20 team since the next T20 World Cup is not imminent.
“Our main focus will remain on ODI cricket and you will see regular changes in the team for the T20 format as the [next] T20 World Cup is currently far away,”
Addressing Key Player Absences
Fakhar Zaman’s Fitness
When asked about the absence of opener Fakhar Zaman from the national team, Aaqib acknowledged that Fakhar is a match-winner facing fitness issues.
“As soon as he [Fakhar] gets fit, we will consider him for [national] selection.”
Role of the Coach
Aaqib elaborated on the coach’s role, stating that it is limited to giving clear messages and assisting with training. The responsibility for producing good results lies with the captain and the players.
“The role of a coach for players is limited noting that he could only give a loud and clear message to players and help them in training while it was the job of captain and his team to produce good results.”
Reflections on Recent T20 Series in Australia
Missed Opportunities
Reflecting on Pakistan’s recent T20 series in Australia, which ended in a 3-0 defeat, Aaqib expressed regret over missed opportunities.
“The first match became shorter [seven-overs-a side due to rain]. Pakistan got some opportunities in the remaining two games but those were wasted. In this format once you miss an opportunity, you have very little time to come back,”
Young Talent Development
Aaqib also mentioned the case of young opener Saim Ayub, who was not selected for the T20 series in Australia. He explained that Saim is being developed in the right direction for Tests and ODIs.
“Young opener Saim Ayub was not selected for the T20 series in Australia because he was developing in the right direction in Tests and ODIs after taking a modest start in these two formats.”
FAQs
Q1: Why is Aaqib Javed confident about managing dual roles? Aaqib Javed has extensive coaching experience at both domestic and international levels, which he believes enables him to effectively manage the responsibilities of both national selector and interim white-ball head coach.
Q2: Has there been any significant change in team selection recently? No, the team selections have remained consistent from the Multan Test against England to the three-match ODI series in Australia, which Aaqib Javed views as evidence of a stable and effective selection process.
Q3: What is Aaqib Javed’s primary focus as the interim white-ball coach? Aaqib Javed’s primary focus is on ODI cricket, particularly in preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. He also aims to introduce regular changes in the T20 team as the next T20 World Cup is not immediate.
Q4: What is the current status of Fakhar Zaman in the national team? Fakhar Zaman is currently not in the national team due to fitness issues. Aaqib Javed has indicated that Fakhar will be considered for selection as soon as he regains full fitness.
Q5: How did Pakistan perform in the recent T20 series in Australia? Pakistan lost the T20 series in Australia 3-0. Aaqib Javed expressed regret over missed opportunities during the series, noting that in T20 cricket, once an opportunity is missed, there is very little time to recover.
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