Aaqib Javed to take over as Pakistan head coach until Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistan Cricket Board, on Monday, November 18 announced the appointment of Aaqib Javed as the interim head coach until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home. Meanwhile, the board has also confirmed that they will not be parting ways with head coach Jason Gillespie as rumoured of late, and that the Australian will continue to look after the red-ball set-up of the men's team.

The former Australia cricketer was hired as a Test coach in April 2024 and later, he was handed the baton in the white-ball as well, after Gary Kirsten resigned. Meanwhile, under Gillespie, Pakistan suffered a humiliating Test series defeat to Bangladesh but made a remarkable comeback against England, winning the series 2-1. As a result, Javed has been handed over the white-ball duties.

Aaqib Javed, who was recently appointed convenor of the men's cricket selection committee, is touted to take over additional responsibilities of the team after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy.

Gillespie was originally expected to continue at least till the upcoming Champions Trophy, as PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi previously was extremely happy with his appointment and considered him and Kirsten to be ‘best possible coaches’. However, Kirsten has already been thrown out of the Pakistani side, while Gillespie is mulling over the possibilities of being in the team only in the capacity of a coach.

Aaqib, meanwhile, has experience of winning back-to-back championships in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but there have been instances of his team finishing at the bottom of the table, and that includes Lahore Qalandars' performance this year.

Led by Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan are slated to play three ODIs and as many 20-over games against Zimbabwe. The Men in Green will then travel to South Africa for another white-ball tour, again playing three one-day and T20s each. Later, the Asian giants will also host New Zealand and the Proteas for a triangular ODI series just before the eight-team tournament to prepare better for the mega event.