KARACHI:Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed defended the team selection for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 during a press conference in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, despite the widespread criticism following Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament.
Pakistan was eliminated from the Champions Trophy in the group stage after a crushing defeat to India, sparking intense criticism from former players and analysts, with many calling for a complete restructuring of the team and management.
However, Aaqib—a former Test and ODI fast bowler who currently holds multiple roles in Pakistan Cricket, including head coach, chief selector, and mentor—stood firm in his decisions. He emphasized that the squad was chosen based on merit and that the players were eager to prove themselves in their final game against Bangladesh on Thursday.
“There are no excuses, nor should there be, but I assure you that the players are feeling the disappointment just as much as the fans and are determined to make an impact in their last match,” Aaqib stated.
Acknowledging the emotional reaction to the loss against India, Aaqib remarked, “Matches between Pakistan and India always carry extra weight, and the loss in Dubai has been particularly tough for everyone.”
Despite this, his statements seemed to deflect blame from the selection committee, whose choices for the tournament have been widely criticized. Many believe inconsistent and questionable selections played a key role in Pakistan’s struggles, with their defeat against New Zealand in the opening match further highlighting these issues.
Amid the criticism, reports emerged suggesting a rift between captain Mohammad Rizwan and Aaqib over the selection of all-rounder Faheem Ashraf for the tournament. Rizwan reportedly disagreed with Ashraf’s inclusion and later omitted him from the matches against New Zealand and India.
Adding to the controversy, former Australian head coach Jason Gillespie expressed shock at the exclusion of spinner Sufyan Muqeem and all-rounder Irfan Khan Niazi, both of whom had excelled in Pakistan’s ODI series victories in Australia and South Africa late last year.
Rather than addressing these concerns directly, Aaqib maintained that the team had been performing well in previous tours. “No one is ever satisfied after a loss, but we have been competitive and recently secured series victories in Australia and South Africa,” he said.
This raises the question: if the team was in such good form, why were changes made to the winning combination?
Prominent former players, including Wasim Akram and Rashid Latif, dismissed Aaqib’s justifications.
“I am deeply disappointed with the state of Pakistan cricket,” Latif told AFP. “We need a system based on merit and professionalism, not political appointments in cricket administration. Constant changes in leadership within the PCB and the selection committee have prevented us from forming a stable team.”
Wasim Akram, frustrated by the team’s poor performance, particularly criticized the pace attack. “We’ve supported these bowlers for years, but they have not shown any significant improvement. A major overhaul is needed, especially in our domestic cricket structure, to develop world-class players instead of average ones,” he told AFP.
However, Aaqib continued to back the struggling fast bowlers, saying, “Criticism of individual players is unfair. If you analyze Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, they are still among the best bowlers in the world.”
As a key figure in the Pakistan Cricket Board, Aaqib’s reluctance to acknowledge shortcomings in team selection and performance has been seen as emblematic of deeper issues within the PCB. Many believe that only a comprehensive restructuring of the system can bring about meaningful change and lead to a revival of Pakistan cricket.
