Aaqib Javed appointed as Sri Lanka's fast-bowling coach

Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed former Pakistan pace bowler Aaqib Javed as the national team's fast-bowling coach. The 51-year-old will begin his new role immediately and remain with the Sri Lankan team until the conclusion of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA in June.

Javed will be bringing a wealth of experience to the Sri Lankan setup, having previously served as the bowling coach for Pakistan when they won the 2009 T20 World Cup. He has also worked as the head coach of the UAE national team during their rise to ODI status and qualification for the ICC World Cup 2015.

He has been associated with the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) since 2017 in Pakistan's domestic T20 franchise and has led them to back-to-back PSL titles in 2022 and 2023.

As a player, the right-arm fast bowler represented Pakistan in 163 ODIs and 22 Tests between 1988-1998, claiming 182 and 54 wickets respectively. He was a part of Pakistan's celebrated 1992 World Cup-winning squad.

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'He will work until the completion of the T20 World Cup' -  SLC statement

"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of former Pakistan pace bowler Aaqib Javed as the national team's fast-bowling coach. He will work with the national team until the completion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup," the SLC statement read. 

The veteran coach is expected to join the Sri Lankan team next week as they begin preparations for the T20 World Cup. His primary focus will be honing the skills of the country's fast bowling arsenal which includes Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, and Matheesha Pathirana among others. 

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Sri Lanka is part of group D of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 along with South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands, and Nepal. Sri Lanka will begin their campaign against Proteas in New York on the 3rd of June.