Pakistan’s interim head coach Aaqib Javed has opened up on the team’s performance in the current cycle of World Test Championship (WTC).
Javed feels that Men in Green would have been in contention for a spot in the WTC finals if they had planned better earlier.
The former fast bowler also defended the team’s switch from pace to spin bowling in recent home tests.
Pakistan have prepared to turn the table over the last few tests at home prepared rank turners over the last few tests at home and have continued adopting the same strategy for the ongoing home series against West Indies.
While speaking to the reporters ahead of the second test of the West Indies tour of Pakistan 2025.
Aaqib Javed was asked about the team’s performance in the overall WTC cycle. Javed wants his team to win every test at home as he understands that the main aim of the WTC is to do well at home.
“People are questioning the direction of our Test cricket. If better decisions had been made earlier, we might have been in the WTC Final or at least might have been in the race,” Javed said.
“The main aim of the World Test Championship is to win at home at any cost. If you win at home and manage to win at least 2-3 overseas Tests, then you’re a strong candidate for the final,” Aaqib Javed observed.
Pakistan suffered a 0-2 test defeat against Bangladesh after the T20 World Cup 2024 and then lost to England in the first test of the Series.
They even lost an away series to Australia and South Africa in this cycle to bow out of the race for the World Test Championship cycle. Currently, they are eighth among the nine teams in the WTC standings.
He also defended the team’s strategy to prepare spin friendly surfaces at home. Javed feels that a team needs to be picked based on the pitch and conditions which is the reason Sajid Khan didn’t find a place in the squad for South Africa tour.
“Recently, we went to South Africa and required just two wickets to win with 48 runs in the bank. But unfortunately, we couldn’t take the last two wickets. There was no spinner in that team. You need to select the team according to the conditions,” the former Pakistan pacer added.
Currently Pakistan is 1-0 in the ongoing test series against West Indies. The final match of the Pakistan-West Indies tour will begin on January 25 at Multan Cricket Stadium.
