Aqib Javed's stint as Pakistan coach to end 'without renewal'

KARACHI: Pakistan men's team's interim head coach Aqib Javed is unlinkely to receive an extension following a disappointing International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy campaign, Geo News reported on Friday.

"Aqib Javed will not get an extension in his role. A new coach will be appointed for the New Zealand tour," sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed.

The team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, failed to secure a single win, culminating in a washed-out match against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

This Champions Trophy marked the first tournament hosted in Pakistan since 1996, and the team's six-wicket loss to arch-rivals India has left a bitter taste among supporters.

Javed, a former international fast bowler, stepped into the coaching role last November following the resignation of Gary Kirsten.

The team's humiliating run and early elimination from the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, it seems, has not only invited widespread criticism from fans and the cricket fraternity but also raised eyebrows in Islamabad.

"The prime minister will personally take notice and we will also ask him to raise these [cricket-related] issues in the cabinet as well as in parliament," PM Shehbaz Sharif's aide on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said while speaking on Geo News' programme "Geo Pakistan".

Meanwhile, sources also revealed earlier that some senior Pakistan cricketers are reportedly considering stepping away from the upcoming New Zealand tour to avoid the risk of being dropped due to their recent poor performances.

According to the insiders, a few players have initiated discussions about taking a "break" from the series, which comprises five T20Is and three ODIs, set to be played from March 16 to April 5.

Speculations regarding potential exclusions have intensified, with reports indicating that key players such as Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam could be at risk.