Aqib Javed’s short stint as Pakistan’s interim head coach may have ended, but his influence on the game is far from over. According to Pro Pakistani, the former fast bowler and accomplished coach is the frontrunner to become the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s next Director of High Performance.
The move would position Aqib at the center of a sweeping structural overhaul of Pakistan cricket’s domestic and development pathways, aligning with his long-held vision of a performance-driven system rooted in modern player development.
High-performance academies to relaunch across Pakistan
At the heart of the PCB’s plan is a major revamp of its cricket academies in Lahore, Karachi, and Multan. These facilities will operate year-round with a renewed focus on nurturing talent across all age groups and formats.
- Multan will specialize in under-19 player development, aiming to prepare a competitive squad for the ICC U19 World Cup.
- Lahore’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) will serve as the central hub for elite players across Pakistan, offering individualized training plans and expert coaching.
- Karachi will focus on women’s cricket, preparing players for the Women’s Cricket World Cup later this year and the T20 World Cup next year.
As reported by Cricket Pakistan, the PCB believes that Aqib Javed’s track record makes him the right choice to oversee this transformation, particularly given his success in reviving and managing previous high-performance programs.
Decades of experience in player development
This is not a gamble. Aqib’s longstanding role as Director of Cricket for Lahore Qalandars, along with his earlier tenure coaching the Pakistan Under-19 team, has earned him wide respect for his ability to identify and polish young talent.
His development philosophy emphasizes structured progression through age-group levels, ensuring players are prepared for the technical, physical, and mental demands of international cricket. That blueprint appears central to the PCB’s new long-term strategy.
“Few coaches in Pakistan cricket are as embedded in the high-performance ecosystem,” one source said. “Aqib combines vision, structure, and experience—qualities the PCB urgently needs.”
Strategic timing with major ICC events ahead
The timing of Aqib’s expected appointment comes with key ICC events looming in both men’s and women’s cricket. With squad depth and bench strength under scrutiny, the revamped academy model is expected to accelerate talent identification and readiness.
Players showing exceptional promise in regional academies will be moved to the NCA in Lahore, where specialist coaches will fine-tune their skills for international competition.
While the PCB has yet to officially confirm Aqib’s new role, all signs point toward his elevation as a key architect of Pakistan’s next cricketing era. If successful, he may help shape the careers of the next Babar Azam, Nida Dar, or Shaheen Afridi.
