Aqib Javed, the head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team, spoke to the media during a press conference and offered his opinions on the team's recent performance in the current ICC Champions Trophy 2025, particularly in the crucial match against India.
The players are more dissatisfied with the result than the country is, he conceded, acknowledging the emotions surrounding the battle.
Performance against India
Pakistan could have achieved a higher total, ideally around 280 runs, which could have altered the course of the match, Aqib Javed emphasised. He emphasised that, especially in a pivotal match like India vs. Pakistan, the difference between scoring 240 and 280 runs is substantial.
With a combined total of over 150 games, this Indian squad had a great deal of experience. "Several of the new players on our team were unable to handle the pressure," he said.
Concerns about injuries and team selection
The head coach disclosed that injuries to Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, two players who contribute positively to the game, forced the squad to make adjustments that resulted in defeats. Khushdil Shah was therefore listed as Saim Ayub's finest substitute.
He went on to say that no one has come close to taking as many wickets as Khushdil Shah has in the past year and a half.
In South Africa and Zimbabwe, Tayyab Tahir excelled, but Niazi had only played in one game and had not produced an outstanding innings. He defended the team selection process by explaining, "It cannot be said that he was dropped despite his performance because he played many matches." "The Pakistan team won the ODI series for the first time in South Africa."
He underlined that the top players were chosen for Pakistan's team. But in the high-stress situation, the inexperience of the new players proved to be a problem. "Every player was chosen because of their performances. It is our responsibility as selectors to choose players based on their performance; no member of the national squad was chosen despite their lack of performance.No one puts in much effort to lose.
Performance of senior players
Senior players like Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah had specialised duties and were held to high standards, according to Aqib Javed.
"The squad lost because our older players didn't live up to the expectations we had of them. However, you cannot just state that they shouldn't be on the squad," he said. He noted that Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen have only participated in 100 games, whilst the younger players have only participated in 30 or fewer.
"The top fast bowlers are Shaheen, Naseem, and Haris. "It's commonly believed that players should be replaced if the team loses," he remarked. He stated that Imamul Haq was re-inducted into the team and that pressure is undoubtedly present when new players are added.
Managing pressure
The head coach acknowledged that during pivotal games, particularly against India, Pakistani players found it difficult to withstand pressure.
"A cricket match between India and Pakistan is more than just a match. It has a great deal of emotional weight. We must sharpen our abilities and adjust to changing circumstances," he continued.
The coach also acknowledged that the team didn't perform well in Dubai, stating that in an India-Pakistan game, skill is less important. "Anyone who can do well under duress succeeds. We wouldn't have so many regrets tonight if we hadn't played against India," said Aqib Javed.
In response to rumours that he and the squad captain were at odds, he adamantly declared, "There was no conflict between the coach and captain." We collaborated to choose the top team available.
Pakistani cricket's future
Aqib Javed emphasised the necessity of policy stability and continuity in Pakistani cricket when speaking about the future.
"The cricket board has seen numerous changes during the past four to five years. It's challenging to establish a solid basis until a long-term policy is in place," he said.
"I don't look for jobs," he said, taking ownership of the loss. "When I'm not needed, I'll go."
Looking ahead
Aqib Javed ended on a high note by stressing the need for Pakistan to keep training for future games.
"We must not linger on the past. We need to work on our weaknesses and keep our eyes on the future. Mega events between India and Pakistan have a long history, but we will continue to get better," he said.
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