Aaqib removed as assistant coach for zimbabwe tour

Former Test fast bowler Aaqib Javed was removed as Pakistan’s assistant coach for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the team management for the tour.

Assistant manager Shahid Aslam could also not retain his position. In his place, the PCB has named Col Wasim Ahmed as security manager with the additional charge of assistant manager for the Zimbabwe tour starting from Aug 26.

While a PCB press release issued on Thursday contained the messages about outgoing and incoming manager of the squad, the statement did not give any reason about Aaqib’s exclusion from the team management.

However, sources told Dawn that former limited-overs skipper Shahid Afridi was a big supporter of Aaqib as part of the team management. But now as Afridi has announced retirement from international cricket and that too after developing differences with the PCB management, it was difficult for Aaqib to retain his post.

No replacement was announced in place of Aaqib. Meanwhile, chairman PCB Ijaz Butt issued a statement, thanking former team manager Intikhab Alam for his role. Intikhab and new manager Naveed Akram Cheema also issued statements.

The PCB chief in his statement said: “Intikhab has done a commendable job as national team manager. His experience as a cricketer and cricket administrator is always a great help. As the director game development he is needed in Pakistan to execute the game development plans.”

Intikhab said: “I am thankful to PCB management for trusting me with responsibilities of team manager in the past. “While I enjoyed working as the team manager, I feel that I now need to dedicate more time to the academies programme which we have restarted after some years. I wish my successor Naveed all the best in his new assignment,” Intikhab added.

Meanwhile, Naveed said: “I am grateful for the confidence reposed in me by the PCB. I will be seeking advice from my predecessor Intikhab Alam. Our collective aim is to ensure that the team do well on the tour and that there is harmony and unity among the squad members.”

Team management:
Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Waqar Younis (coach), Col. Wasim Ahmed (security/assistant manager), Dr Sohail Saleem (doctor-cum-physio), Saboor Ahmed (trainer), Umar Farooq (analyst), Mohammad Akhtar (masseur).

news covered by dawn sports