Aqib Javed, the Director of High Performance at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has outlined his vision to transform the National Cricket Academy into a world-class institution that meets the demands of modern cricket. In a recent podcast interview with Wahab Riaz, Aqib Javed discussed his short-term and long-term plans for the academy.

Revamping the National Cricket Academy

Aqib Javed emphasized that his primary objective is to bring the National Cricket Academy to a level where it is recognized globally as a best-in-class system. “We don’t want to copy others; we want people to emulate us,” he said. He highlighted the importance of the academy in the development and success of cricket in any country. The former Test cricketer expressed his disappointment when the academy was shut down in the past, which led him to move to the UAE, where he coached the UAE team in various international tournaments.

Focus on Player Development

Aqib stressed that as a coach, it is essential to respect players and not expect them to replicate the coach’s style. He believes that the National Cricket Academy’s role is to fill the gaps in the Pakistan team by producing players with expertise in all three departments – batting, bowling, and fielding. “Currently, many players lack basic fielding skills,” he noted. The academy will focus on developing players for both the men’s and women’s teams.

New Initiatives

Aqib announced several new initiatives, including upgrading the academy’s facilities, reactivating the biomechanics lab, and introducing a specialized syllabus for coaches. He also revealed plans to allocate specific centers for different age groups, such as the High-Performance Center in Karachi for women’s cricket, Multan Academy for Under-19 cricketers, and Faisalabad’s High-Performance Center for Under-17 cricketers.

Collaboration with Head Coach

Aqib emphasized the importance of coordination with the head coach, Mike Hesson, to ensure a smooth transition of players from the academy to the national team. He set a six-month target to implement these changes and expects to see a significant improvement in the team’s performance.

Long-term Goals

Aqib outlined his long-term goals, focusing on identifying and developing talented young players through a systematic approach. He aims to create a pool of skilled coaches, umpires, curators, trainers, and physiotherapists by providing them with specialized training and education. “Unless we have a vision for the future, we will never progress,” he said.

With these initiatives, Javed is confident that the National Cricket Academy will become a hub for producing world-class cricketers, and Pakistan cricket will benefit from a robust and sustainable system.