LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday appointed former international fast bowler Aqib Javed as the interim head coach of the Pakistan men’s white-ball cricket team.
He will hold the position until the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan.
The PCB, in a press release issued on November 18, 2024, stated that Aqib Javed will also continue to serve as a senior member of the men’s National Selection Committee during this period. Furthermore, he will be assigned additional responsibilities after the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy.
The PCB stated that a recruitment process for a permanent white-ball head coach will be initiated to finalize the appointment of a permanent head coach after the ICC Champions Trophy.
Aqib Javed’s appointment follows a series of coaching reshuffles within the Pakistan team. Jason Gillespie, who was named head coach for all formats last month after the resignation of former South Africa batter Gary Kirsten, will now focus on his role as red-ball coach.
Gillespie will rejoin the squad for the upcoming two-Test series in South Africa, starting December 26, after the ongoing white-ball series in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Earlier Gary Kirsten resigned as head coach ahead of the Australia tour.
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In Kirsten’s absence, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie was temporarily assigned to oversee the limited-overs matches against Australia.
“Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men’s cricket team on next month’s white-ball tour of Australia after Gary Kirsten submitted his resignation, which was accepted,” PCB stated in a press release issued on October 28, 2024.
With Pakistan’s packed schedule, including three ODIs and three T20Is against Zimbabwe from November 24 to December 5, followed by white-ball and red-ball matches against South Africa in December and January, the PCB is looking to establish long-term stability in its coaching setup.
Looking ahead, Pakistan will host an ODI triangular series involving New Zealand and South Africa from February 8 to 14, 2025, as part of their preparations for the Champions Trophy.
Aqib Javed, who played 22 Tests and 163 ODIs for Pakistan between 1988 and 1998, was known for his ability to swing the ball both ways. A key member of Pakistan’s victorious 1992 World Cup team, he retired in the late 1990s and transitioned into coaching.
He guided the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to achieve ODI and T20I status and secured qualification for the 2015 ICC World Cup during his tenure.
