Aqib Javed, Pakistan’s interim head coach and a member of the selection committee, believes that expanding the national cricket team’s player pool is necessary to keep up with the modern demands of the game. In an interview on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast, Javed highlighted that modern cricket is physically and mentally challenging, and Pakistan must make bold decisions to stay competitive.
The Pakistan cricket team is currently in South Africa, gearing up for the second and final Test in Cape Town. This Test is part of a busy schedule that has already seen the team play three ODIs and three T20Is before the first Test match. The hectic cricket calendar shows no sign of slowing down. After this tour, Pakistan will host the West Indies for a Test series starting on January 16, followed by a tri-series with South Africa and England. In February and March, the team will compete in the ICC Champions Trophy, before moving on to other commitments through the rest of the year.
Aqib Javed stressed that the demands of modern cricket require Pakistan to expand its pool of players. He explained that this would involve making tough decisions because, sooner or later, all teams will need to do the same. He believes that the key to managing the challenging cricket calendar is rotation, allowing younger players to step up while giving senior players the rest they need.
As a selector, Aqib Javed focused on giving emerging players opportunities during Pakistan’s tours of Australia and Zimbabwe. He also recognized the importance of resting senior players to prevent burnout. With such a packed schedule, he emphasized that relying on the same set of players for an entire year would not be possible. “Look at Pakistan’s schedule: England, Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and now West Indies,” Javed pointed out. “After that, there’s the tri-series, Champions Trophy, and two days later, white-ball cricket in New Zealand. It’s impossible to depend on the same players all year.”
The former cricketer also mentioned the need to treat red-ball and white-ball teams differently to keep players fresh and motivated. He believes that balancing the workload and allowing players time to rest is essential to maintaining their physical and mental health. Javed’s plan involves creating a system where players can take breaks after playing intense cricket for three months, giving them time for recovery and training before returning to the field.
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