Aaqib Javed: “If you look at the past 10-12 years, apart from Mickey Arthur, [the] PCB has not hired any professional coach”
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Former fast bowler Aaqib Javed believes Mickey Arthur was the only professional head coach Pakistan have had in the last 10 to 12 years.
He blasted the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) hiring criteria, saying they hire anyone as head coach, even if they have “not coached for a single day.”
The 51-year-old currently coaches the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), but noted that the PCB have failed miserably when it comes to finding candidates with proper coaching experience to take charge of the national team.
“It’s not about jealousy, it’s about mindset. If you look at the past 10-12 years, apart from Mickey Arthur, [the] PCB has not hired any professional coach. In the entire world, when there is an advertisement for coaching, the first requirement is usually a Level 3 plus qualification, followed by 4-5 years of international experience,” Aaqib told Cricket Pakistan.
“PCB hires a person first and then the advertisement comes according to that person. So when you don’t correct your advertisement, then anyone can apply, then what is the criteria?
“I have always said that you should create merit and make decisions based on it. Without any qualification, without any experience, if a person has not coached for a single day, you hire him as head coach. This is not criticism, this is saying that you should do your job professionally.”
In PSL 2024, the Qalandars, under Aaqib’s guidance, failed to impress as they only won one out of the 10 games they played.