Aaqib Javed, the head of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy and a senior selector for Pakistan, has disclosed that he has been observing India’s success story and has attempted to use it to improve the sport in his nation.
India has been playing well in white-ball cricket; the team won the Asia Cup in September after defeating Pakistan in the final, the Champions Trophy in Dubai earlier this year, and the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean last year.
“I have looked at India’s success and have to tried execute plans for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. Any cricket nation’s success is based on the quality of its talent,” Aaqib, a former pace bowler, said on a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast.
He recounted that during India’s 2006 trip to Pakistan, a senior official from the visiting team had asked to see the LCCA ground in Lahore, which was regarded as one of the best facilities and academies in the area.
“I think we fell away (behind) in doing the basic things correctly in our cricket system. No matter who you appoint as captain, coach or selector, unless you don’t have the quality in talent nothing changes. And quality of talent can be assured by increasing the bench strength and competition, and this is only possible with proper infrastructure and system,” he said.
Aaqib, who was also the Pakistan team’s temporary head coach until recently, said he was certain that Pakistan cricket was finally headed in the right direction.
When asked about the forthcoming international matches and the T20 World Cup that will take place in India and Sri Lanka early next year, he responded that now is the ideal moment for Pakistan to have an effect on the world stage.
“Indications are all there, we have good players, they have combined well and importantly there is choice of players now.”
He claimed that the fact that Pakistan would play all of their matches in Sri Lanka would be their greatest advantage in the forthcoming World Cup.
“If the World Cup had been in say Australia or South Africa, I would have thought differently. But (this) is the best time for the team to do well.”
Additionally, he voiced his satisfaction with the quality emerging from domestic cricket and the Pakistan Shaheens squad, asserting that three to four players were prepared for international cricket.
“Nowadays, talent is also about mental strength because players are constantly under scrutiny; they can’t move around freely, their every move is scrutinised…so you have to gauge how mentally tough a player is.”
Aaqib continued by saying that he is not intimidated by criticism because he has been a player, captain, coach, and selector.
“The criticism is an aftershock; it only comes after a poor performance. So, why should I mind the criticism. I have no problems with that because that is how you have accountability in a system.
“Yes, at times the criticism is personal and they are those who will only want to criticise everything. But we have to remember when a team does well, everyone is happy and backs you. So why can’t we accept criticism when we do badly. The only way you can avoid being criticised is to do well.”
