On Saturday, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the appointment of former Pakistani pace bowler Aaqib Javed as the national team’s fast bowling coach.
In welcoming Aaqib, Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, expressed confidence in his vast international experience, both as a player and a coach, to bolster the team’s bowling prowess ahead of major international events like the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Currently serving as the director of cricket operations and head coach of the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, Aaqib’s role with Sri Lanka cricket will commence immediately and extend until the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA in June 2024, as announced by the board.
With a rich cricketing career, Aaqib played 163 ODIs and 22 Test matches for Pakistan, claiming a total of 236 international wickets. He was a pivotal member of Pakistan’s victorious 1992 World Cup squad and has since contributed extensively to cricket coaching, having worked with various national teams in different capacities.
Previously, he served as the coach of the UAE national team, during which the team achieved ODI and T20I status and participated in the ICC Men’s 50 Over World Cup in 2015, as well as the qualifiers for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2014. Additionally, Aaqib coached the Pakistan U19 team to a World Cup triumph in 2004 and served as the bowling coach when Pakistan claimed the 2009 T20 World Cup in England.
