Aaqib set to take over Director High Performance Centre

ISLAMABAD: Aaqib Javed is all set to take over as Director High Performance Centre (As revealed by The News in the April 13 edition) any day after May 5 as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also contemplating making changes in the selection committee.

The Interim Head Coach, who is also an important part of the section committee, has decided to concentrate fully on his responsibilities of overseeing cricketers’ grooming through academies and national high-performance centres.

“In all likelihood, Aaqib Javed will take over as Director of High Performance from the second week of May. He has expressed his willingness to play his role in players’ grooming and working on the youngsters in coordination with academy coaches and the concerned support staff,” a close associate of Aaqib confirmed to The News.

Sources indicate that Aaqib Javed, who has expressed a desire to work in a strategic and development-oriented position rather than endure the round-the-clock demands of coaching at the international level, finds the High-Performance post a better fit.

Following Aaqib’s elevation to the High Performance Centre, a shuffle in the selection committee is also expected in the future. It is not clear whether the changes in the selection committee will be initiated before the series against Bangladesh or a new selection committee will be established after the series. The shuffled selection committee will take the responsibilities till the 2026 T20 World Cup to be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India.”

On the head coach front, the PCB’s hunt for a foreign coach does not seem to be bearing any fruit. The majority of top foreign coaches associated with one franchise or the other have not shown any interest in the Pakistan job. There is all likelihood that PCB will settle for local coaches at the end, with Saqlain Mushtaq still being the front runner.

With Bangladesh scheduled to tour Pakistan in late May for a five-match T20I series, the PCB is under pressure to finalize its leadership structure swiftly. The board aims to have both the head coach and the performance director in place well before the first ball is bowled against Bangladesh, ensuring continuity and clarity in vision for the months ahead.

This moment marks a critical juncture for Pakistan cricket. As the PCB deliberates on its next move, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see whether a return to trusted local leadership will bring the stability and success the national side so desperately needs.