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The potential departure of Aaqib Javed comes amid a turbulent period for the national side, which has faced intense scrutiny following a series of poor results. Reports indicate that Aaqib, who has held considerable influence over selection and team-related matters, may be directed to focus exclusively on his responsibilities as the Director of Development at the Lahore High Performance Centre.
Internal Restructuring and Selection Scrutiny
The push for change follows the recent decision to send senior players Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Salman Ali Agha home from the ongoing tour of England. According to reports, the decision to drop Rizwan and Imam was motivated by both their recent form and concerns regarding their conduct within the dressing room. Meanwhile, the departure of other squad members was reportedly recommended by interim red-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who sought to integrate players he had previously worked with during white-ball camps.
The PCB has taken a firm stance, issuing formal notices to members of the selection and advisory committees. These officials have been asked to provide explanations regarding the criteria used to select Rizwan and Imam for the England tour and to clarify the overall formulation of the team's selection policy. The instability within the selection panel is further evidenced by the fact that former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has already offered his resignation from the committee.
Context of the Recent Series Defeats
The board's aggressive approach to restructuring follows a difficult series against England, where Pakistan conceded an unbeatable 2-0 lead. The team suffered an innings and 103-run defeat in the series opener at Headingley, followed by a 194-run loss at Lord's. In response to these results, the PCB took the extraordinary step of replacing Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with Mike Hesson, who was already overseeing the white-ball setup.
As the board continues its clean-up exercise, the future of the current selection committee remains uncertain. With the team currently struggling to find consistency on the field, the PCB’s leadership appears determined to implement structural changes to address the issues that have plagued the squad's recent international campaigns.
