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Azhar Ali Slams Aaqib Javed Over Pakistan Cricket Slump
Confirmed
In Short: Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has criticized High Performance Director Aaqib Javed for the team's recent struggles.
Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has harshly criticized Aaqib Javed, the team's High Performance Director, for the current struggles of Pakistan cricket. Ali, speaking, said, 'The team has been making bad decisions for three years, and the former pacer always puts the blame elsewhere instead of looking at his own faults.' He added, 'If you cannot control this team or make a difference to Pakistan cricket, then step away.
Ali also expressed concern over the lack of fast bowlers in the team, comparing Pakistan's situation unfavorably to Bangladesh. He stated, 'We have to ask why the fast bowlers are not coming through. Look at Bangladesh. They were not content with just spin at home; they wanted to grow as a cricketing nation and produced a group of fast bowlers who have just won a Test match in Australia.' He emphasized the need for a settled structure and a clear roadmap to improve the team's performance.
The recent Test series in England has been particularly tough for Pakistan, with four successive failures with the bat across the two Tests. Following a 194-run defeat to England in the second Test at Lord's, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made significant changes, recalling seven players and coaches and appointing Mike Hesson as the new Test head coach.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif also lambasted current Test skipper Babar Azam for failing to stand up as a leader amid the major mid-series squad reshuffle. Latif said, 'Babar should have resigned here. Half of the team has been sent back home. If I were in his place, I would have given up the captaincy.' The team's woes have deepened, with the women's team also suffering a heavy defeat, being skittled for 55 runs in the Women's Asia Cup 2026.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) then recalled seven players — Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad — besides coaches Ahmed and Gul.
- Mike Hesson, already Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, will take over the Test side for the rest of the tour, with Ashley Noffke as his bowling coach.
- The disciplined bowling effort ensured Pakistan never found their footing in the innings, conceding only 27 runs for the loss of their first wicket before the collapse ensued.
- The Dubai International Cricket Stadium bore witness to a spectacular display of cricketing prowess as India Women demolished Pakistan Women by seven wickets in their highly anticipated Women's Asia Cup 2026 Group A clash today.
- In a match that exemplified absolute dominance, India chased down a paltry target of 56 runs in just 8.4 overs, leaving cricket fans and netizens buzzing about the one-sided affair.