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Despite admitting that repeated defeats to India continue to erode supporters' sentiments, Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed has urged supporters and detractors to exercise patience as the team attempts to regain its winning momentum. After losing badly in the Champions Trophy group stage, which they co-hosted, Pakistan has come under heavy criticism. Javed, however, thinks that patience and faith in the players and management are necessary for true progress.
Aaqib Javed on Pakistan
In addition to prolonging Pakistan's losing skid against their bitter rivals in ICC competitions, the loss to India also guaranteed their elimination from the competition. As concerns about the team's future grew, the outcome put more strain on the players, coaching staff, and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Speaking at a press conference, Javed, whose own status as head coach is still up in the air, blamed the loss on the team's lack of effective bowlers.
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"You want to take Pakistan cricket forward then you need to have consistency and continuity in policies in our cricket starting from the PCB Chairman to the players...Since last year see how many captains, coaches, selectors and board Chairman have changed. This is never an ideal situation for the team and it does affect their performances.” Aaqib said.
"In the past we have always beaten India by taking wickets and applying pressure. This team had the ability to beat India but the pressure of the match got to them...It is never easy playing against India. It is always a high pressure game and it is never easy for new players...I can understand the hurt and frustration at our failure but we need to understand neither can you judge a player or team on basis one or two series. You need to be more consistent and patient,” he added
Additionally, Javed emphasized that Pakistan's practice of regularly switching staff is having more negative effects than positive ones. He maintained that the team is unable to establish the rhythm required to resume winning ways because of constant rearranging. The team has already had three coach changes since the 2023 ODI World Cup, which signaled the start of Pakistan's collapse. Mohammad Hafeez, who was fired prior to the T20 World Cup, took Mickey Arthur's place. Then, Pakistan added former Australia bowler Jason Gillespie and World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten.
Gillespie was fired less than a year after taking over as coach of the Test team, and Kirsten's tenure ended abruptly without him coaching a single ODI after he and the PCB could not agree on player selections. As Pakistan attempts to rebuild, their upcoming white-ball tour against New Zealand will be a critical test in their road to recovery.
