PCB not to extend Aaqib’s contract as interim head coach

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to extend Aaqib Javed’s contract as interim head coach following the national team’s dismal performance in the

ICC Champions Trophy 2025. According to PCB sources, a new head coach will be appointed ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand, scheduled from March 16 to April 5.

Javed, a former international fast bowler, stepped into the coaching role last November after Gary Kirsten resigned. Pakistan failed to secure a single victory in the tournament, finishing fourth in Group A with two defeats and one washed-out match.

Their campaign ended in disappointment after a six-wicket loss to arch-rivals India and a 60-run defeat against New Zealand. The final group game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.

The team’s poor performance has not only drawn widespread criticism from cricketing circles but has also caught the attention of political figures. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aide on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, stated that the government will take notice of the situation.

“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,” Sanaullah said while speaking on a television programme.

The PCB is actively searching for a permanent head coach who can help stabilise the team. Speculation is rife about potential candidates, with some reports suggesting that the board might look for an experienced foreign coach to take charge before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.