Soon after landing a job with Sri Lanka Cricket, Aaqib Javed hits out at Pakistan Cricket Board for gross unprofessionalism

Former Pakistani cricketer and the head coach of Lahore Qalandars from PSL season 9, Aaqib Javed has hit out at the PCB for their lack of professionalism in cricketing matters. Javed made this admission while speaking to Cricket Pakistan recently in light of the Pakistan team, failure to appoint a new head coach for the white and red-ball teams.

The Pakistan Cricket Board was first looking to sign former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson as the head coach for their white-ball team. Watson was looking over PSL 9 outfit Quetta Gladiators and he helped the team reach the play-offs before bowing out from the Eliminators stage.

That had intrigued PCB to make up their mind to make an offer and despite things being at an advanced stage, Watson eventually declined from joining. It was due to some leakage of internal information but Aaqib Javed thinks there is more to it.

Improper advertisement, is the key to PCB’s failure in hiring a good coach, says Aaqib Javed

During that interview, when asked about his views on why PCB failed to hire a good coach, Aaqib Javed pointed out the improper advertising from the board as the main reason. Javed narrated very well that PCB, very often, first hires a coach and then puts out the advertisement according to that person, which is not the right thing.

All that Aaqib Javed tried to convey from that point was that PCB doesn’t put out the right and required things in their head coach advertisements and set no criteria whatsoever. He claimed that in such cases, it’s normal for just anyone to apply and then get selected, only to end up getting sacked after a few months. Javed further slammed PCB for hiring just one good coach in the last decade and that is Mickey Arthur otherwise, PCB has been highly unprofessional in their approach.

“PCB hires a person first and then the advertisement comes according to that person. So when you don’t correct your advertisement, then anyone can apply, then what is the criteria.” – Aaqib Javed told Cricket Pakistan. 

Javed, who saw Lahore Qalandars finish at the bottom of the points table in season 9, claimed that PCB should be forming criteria and coaches should be hired based on merit. He also mentioned that he’s not trying to criticize the Pakistani board but it’s just his way of letting them know to at least carry out their job professionally.

“I have always said that you should create merit and make decisions based on it. Without any qualification, without any experience, if a person has not coached for a single day, you hire him as head coach. This is not criticism, this is saying that you should do your job professionally.” – Javed added. 

Javed feels PSL 9 was an average tournament

Despite coaching a team in PSL 9, Aaqib Javed is of the view that the recently concluded tournament was pretty average, in terms of crowd turnouts, pitches, and standard of cricket. He admitted himself that he didn’t see any of it this year and certainly hoped for things to improve from next season onwards.

“This PSL season was not commendable in any aspect. If you look at the standard of cricket, if you look at the standard of pitches, if you look at the crowd involvement, then this time you didn’t see anything.” – Aaqib Javed concluded.