Pakistan not ready for separate captains in all formats: Aaqib Javed

The former pacer also talked about Shan Masood's appointment as ODI vice captain

January 12, 2023
Pakistan lost three and drew two out of the last five Test matches played  — Twitter/Lahore Qalandars 

Former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed has said that the national side are not ready to appoint separate captains for all three formats of the game.

After Pakistan's dismal performance against England and New Zealand in the five Test matches, and since Sarfaraz Ahmed's fairytale return, there have been calls to appoint different captains for the white-ball and the longest format.

However, Aaqib has dismissed the suggestion. 

"I wonder who is suggesting appointing different captains for different formats. It is good that Sarfraz Ahmed came back and performed well, but it doesn't happen like that, that you play two Tests and shake the whole system," he told Geo News in an exclusive interview.

The wicketkeeper-batter, who made his return to the national Test side after almost four years, smashed 355 runs in four innings against New Zealand.

"There is no Test in eight months. All this is being done based on agenda and propaganda. It is indeed a challenge to take all three formats together, as it is difficult for the coaches and the captain," said AAqib, the head coach of PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars.

He said that all this is not just the thought of the new management committee but the desire of other people.

"I think that the new management committee has to work on increasing the pool of players. Now we are not ready to make separate captains for each format," he added.

The former pacer stressed that Pakistan should first prepare well before emulating cricket powerhouses, Australia and England.

"Sometimes we want to be Australia, sometimes we want to be England. First, learn from their success story, England lost badly in the 2015 World Cup held in Australia. But after that, they made a plan and followed it. Brendan McCullum made it more modern. The style of cricket they are playing now is not traditional cricket anymore. We have to do our homework first, and then we have to make some decisions," he explained.

'Mistake'

Aqib said that the team management made a mistake by appointing Shan Masood as ODI vice-captain for the New Zealand series.

"It should not have happened, Shadab Khan is the vice-captain of white-ball cricket. If he is injured, then there was no need to announce him as vice-captain," he said.

"By making Shan the vice-captain, it seems that Babar Azam and the board are not on the same page. Everything revolves around the captain, as he has to plan and play the team on the ground, so the board must be onboard with the captain," he added.

Aqib also lauded interim chief selector Shahid Afridi and said he has done a couple of good things, including bringing Sarfaraz back and giving an opportunity to performing players in domestic cricket.

Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.

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