Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the appointment of former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed as their new fast bowling coach on Saturday. Javed will assume the role immediately and remain with the national team until the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled for June 2024 in the West Indies and USA.
Pakistan veteran’s cricketing journey
Aaqib Javed, a member of Pakistan’s victorious 1992 World Cup squad, brings a wealth of experience to the Sri Lankan setup. The 51-year-old has 54 Test wickets and 182 ODI scalps under his belt.
Beyond representing Pakistan in 163 ODIs and 22 Tests, Javed has established himself as a respected coach, having previously served as the bowling coach of his national team and head coach of the UAE team.
Javed’s tenure with the UAE proved highly successful. Under his guidance, the UAE achieved both ODI and T20I status, participated in the 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and competed in the qualifiers for the 2014 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Javed also coached the Pakistan U-19 team to a World Cup victory in 2004 and served as the bowling coach during their T20 World Cup win in 2009. Currently, he holds the positions of Director of Cricket Operations and head coach for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
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‘His vast experience will be invaluable in preparing our fast bowlers for upcoming major tournaments’: SLC CEO
“We are thrilled to welcome Aaqib Javed to Sri Lanka Cricket,” said Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, in his official statement. “His vast experience, both on the field and as a coach, will be invaluable in preparing our fast bowlers for upcoming major tournaments, especially the T20 World Cup.”
Javed’s appointment is a significant boost for Sri Lanka’s pace attack as they gear up for crucial international encounters, including the upcoming T20 World Cup. Fans can expect his expertise to sharpen the skills of Sri Lanka’s fast bowlers in the coming months.