Pakistan landed in Zimbabwe today after enduring a clean sweep at the hands of Australia. While this is not a rarity as far as Pakistan is concerned, the reason they are relatively unbothered by the defeat is something else. Pakistan’s newly hired interim coach, Aaqib Javed, says that the team’s focus currently is only on the ODIs. With the Champions Trophy ever so close, where Pakistan will not only play hosts but also have a title to defend, the team has decided to put all they have into building their best ODI side. And to do that Pakistan’s management has decided to do what they are famous for not doing: stick with the players they already have, though the T20I side will see a lot of changes being made.
“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.” Aaqib said.
The men in green will begin their white-ball tour in Zimbabwe on November 24, where they will play three One-day Internationals and as many T20Is. Although Pakistan had to go through a disgraceful defeat in the shortest format matches versus Australia, they were a force to be reckoned with in the 50-over games. Following their defeat in the first ODI, they came from behind on the back of their bowling lineup and trounced Australia in the next two games, winning the series by 2-1. This was the first time after 2002 that Pakistan defeated Australia in an ODI series down under.
“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.” Aaqib Javed said while speaking to the media.
But the team’s on-field ups and downs, like always, are complemented by the off-field drama that never gets put to bed. Pakistan’s former white-ball coach, Gary Kirsten, resigned a few days before Pakistan’s opening ODI game against Australia. Jason Gillespie was offered to fill in for Kirsten temporarily for the series, after which Aaqib Javed was promoted to the role. Reportedly, the reason why Kirsten resigned was the growing power of Pakistan’s newly formed selection committee that oversaw the second Test match against England in its first assignment.
Gillespie, too, complained about this after the committee was given the power to select the final XI for the games without consulting either coach or captain. When asked about the omnipotence of the five-member selection committee, the former fast bowler denied the claims.
“We always consult the coach and captain, and then the selection committee announces the team,” Aaqib Javed said refuting Gillespie’s claims. “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.”
Currently, Aaqib has two roles within the PCB. He is the team’s coach as well as one of the members of the selection committee. Having criticized players like Misbah ul Haq for holding two positions in the past, Aaqib Javed received many raised eyebrows for doing the same. However, the newly hired coach says that his case is ‘slightly different’ but he can not escape criticism by any means.
“My case is slightly different from the cases you mentioned. I am not the chief selector, but part of a panel. I do not view it as a problem because we all want to select players who do the best for Pakistan.” Aaqib Javed defended his decision to take on dual roles in the team. “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.”
A young Pakistan side under Mohammad Rizwan has reached Zimbabwe via Dubai today. Many star players including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah have been rested for the tour, while Rizwan will sit the T20I tour out.