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Director High Performance, Aaqib Javed's Media Talk on Day 3 of the Skills Development Camp:
About the standout player in the camp:
“These camps aren’t about fixing mistakes in 6-7 days. Instead, they’re about setting expectations—selectors, coaches, and captains communicate what’s required from players. In terms of talent, we’re looking to strengthen fast bowling, spin, all-rounders (both spin and pace), and wicketkeeping options. These camps will continue until October to bridge gaps and create depth.”
About spin-friendly pitches given concerns about struggling overseas:
"We need to understand that a new cycle of the Test Championship is starting, and in my opinion, Pakistan has very good chance. Every team in the world tries to win their home series. Sometimes, we get confused whether we should focus on winning the series at the same time as developing players. Definitely, we'll see how to win the Test series against South Africa. Our main goal is to win that series, and we will prepare pitches that suit our conditions to achieve that."
About some players missing in the 47-man camp:
“The selection for Bangladesh is largely complete, and an announcement will be made in a few days. As for Haseeb or any other youngster, these aren't camps that start and end. These camps will run year-round. The best change I've seen, which I really like, is that after so many years, players are now waking up at 5 AM and coming to the ground. Those 2-2.5 hours in the morning were missing from their professional lives. For a professional player, it's crucial to utilize their time effectively and make the most of their entire day. I'm sure that in the coming six months and beyond, you'll see a significant change in the players' fitness and skills. The aim is for the NCA and other high-performance centers to be active and constantly working, helping our players develop their skills better and better."
About Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan:
"One thing everyone needs to understand is that our current situation across all three formats isn't very good. So, we can't take any series lightly. When you go to Bangladesh, any team playing at home has a strong advantage. So, the best available option will be sent there to play. As for Rizwan and Babar, definitely, discussions have been held with them, and any player, regardless of format, who isn't fitting in or is struggling, has had discussions about the reasons and how they can improve themselves further."
Update on Naseem Shah and Wasim Jr.’s injuries:
"Regarding injuries, Naseem had some problems in the past. But now, he's coming here every day, training, and improving his fitness. He's even bowling long spells now. As for Wasim jr., he also had a minor injury, but he bowled today. It becomes easier when you have a system in place because you can constantly check every player's fitness and form."
Addressing power-hitting gaps in T20s and ODIs:
"In today's cricket, we have the T20 format and the ODI format. The focus was largely on these two. Modern cricket has become so specialized that you have to train bowlers and develop batting options phase by phase. First and foremost, it's crucial to understand what a team, captain, coach, and player need. What role will a player fit into, and what will be the requirements? The requirements these days are about staying within a certain phase and maintaining a specific strike rate. If you're a bowler, you need to contain runs within a certain limit. There are different skills, and the focus is on training those specific skills. If someone needs to improve their Yorkers, the focus is on Yorkers. If it's new-ball bowling, the focus is on hard lengths with the new ball. Similarly, openers have a role, middle-order batsmen have a role, and then the power-hitters lower down have specific roles and training. This is how it will all work."
About young players’ inclusion for the upcoming series:
"Whether it's a youngster or a senior player, the best option available should play for Pakistan right now. There are times when you play, and your performance might struggle, then improve. The requirements for the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup, which will be held here in the subcontinent, in Asian conditions. Here, scores around 200 or even more are common. So, any batting option that fits the role of helping the team score 200+ runs is important. It's not about how senior you are or who you are."
"It depends on where you're going and what format you're playing. For example, in the last series in New Zealand, new options and youngsters were sent. Sometimes you struggle, but then you continue with them. The Bangladesh series is coming up. This is how you always see that sometimes there's a dip. Then you have to develop players. It's not that a player, whether from India or any team in the world, stays forever. There comes a phase where you have to include new players, and at times, you have to make some sacrifices."
About Haris Rauf’s selection for upcoming series:
"There are two upcoming series: one against Bangladesh and one against West Indies (a T20 in the USA, followed by an ODI in the West Indies). This is a good time to try out our options. So, Haris will most probably be seen playing in these series."
About Asia Cup and its advantage for Pakistan:
"The Asia Cup means all Asian teams participate, and everyone has a similar advantage. So, if the matches are in Dubai, it's the same for everyone, whether it's India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, or Afghanistan. It's not an alien situation or conditions for anyone. It also depends on the pitches; sometimes they are difficult, sometimes there are options for 200-plus scores. You have to compete, so it's not an advantage or disadvantage for anyone."
"Our preparations are complete because the camp starting on the 8th in Karachi includes both ODI and T20 players. Whatever the final decision is, we are ready for it. Both our ODI and T20 options are having camps and will be ready."
About addressing the spin department struggles:
"Every option is important, whether it's spin or fast bowling. Definitely, there are some new spinners and some old ones. Nawaz is also a good option; he has performed well. But, we have to consider all options."
About the standout player in the camp:
“These camps aren’t about fixing mistakes in 6-7 days. Instead, they’re about setting expectations—selectors, coaches, and captains communicate what’s required from players. In terms of talent, we’re looking to strengthen fast bowling, spin, all-rounders (both spin and pace), and wicketkeeping options. These camps will continue until October to bridge gaps and create depth.”
About spin-friendly pitches given concerns about struggling overseas:
"We need to understand that a new cycle of the Test Championship is starting, and in my opinion, Pakistan has very good chance. Every team in the world tries to win their home series. Sometimes, we get confused whether we should focus on winning the series at the same time as developing players. Definitely, we'll see how to win the Test series against South Africa. Our main goal is to win that series, and we will prepare pitches that suit our conditions to achieve that."
About some players missing in the 47-man camp:
“The selection for Bangladesh is largely complete, and an announcement will be made in a few days. As for Haseeb or any other youngster, these aren't camps that start and end. These camps will run year-round. The best change I've seen, which I really like, is that after so many years, players are now waking up at 5 AM and coming to the ground. Those 2-2.5 hours in the morning were missing from their professional lives. For a professional player, it's crucial to utilize their time effectively and make the most of their entire day. I'm sure that in the coming six months and beyond, you'll see a significant change in the players' fitness and skills. The aim is for the NCA and other high-performance centers to be active and constantly working, helping our players develop their skills better and better."
About Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan:
"One thing everyone needs to understand is that our current situation across all three formats isn't very good. So, we can't take any series lightly. When you go to Bangladesh, any team playing at home has a strong advantage. So, the best available option will be sent there to play. As for Rizwan and Babar, definitely, discussions have been held with them, and any player, regardless of format, who isn't fitting in or is struggling, has had discussions about the reasons and how they can improve themselves further."
Update on Naseem Shah and Wasim Jr.’s injuries:
"Regarding injuries, Naseem had some problems in the past. But now, he's coming here every day, training, and improving his fitness. He's even bowling long spells now. As for Wasim jr., he also had a minor injury, but he bowled today. It becomes easier when you have a system in place because you can constantly check every player's fitness and form."
Addressing power-hitting gaps in T20s and ODIs:
"In today's cricket, we have the T20 format and the ODI format. The focus was largely on these two. Modern cricket has become so specialized that you have to train bowlers and develop batting options phase by phase. First and foremost, it's crucial to understand what a team, captain, coach, and player need. What role will a player fit into, and what will be the requirements? The requirements these days are about staying within a certain phase and maintaining a specific strike rate. If you're a bowler, you need to contain runs within a certain limit. There are different skills, and the focus is on training those specific skills. If someone needs to improve their Yorkers, the focus is on Yorkers. If it's new-ball bowling, the focus is on hard lengths with the new ball. Similarly, openers have a role, middle-order batsmen have a role, and then the power-hitters lower down have specific roles and training. This is how it will all work."
About young players’ inclusion for the upcoming series:
"Whether it's a youngster or a senior player, the best option available should play for Pakistan right now. There are times when you play, and your performance might struggle, then improve. The requirements for the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup, which will be held here in the subcontinent, in Asian conditions. Here, scores around 200 or even more are common. So, any batting option that fits the role of helping the team score 200+ runs is important. It's not about how senior you are or who you are."
"It depends on where you're going and what format you're playing. For example, in the last series in New Zealand, new options and youngsters were sent. Sometimes you struggle, but then you continue with them. The Bangladesh series is coming up. This is how you always see that sometimes there's a dip. Then you have to develop players. It's not that a player, whether from India or any team in the world, stays forever. There comes a phase where you have to include new players, and at times, you have to make some sacrifices."
About Haris Rauf’s selection for upcoming series:
"There are two upcoming series: one against Bangladesh and one against West Indies (a T20 in the USA, followed by an ODI in the West Indies). This is a good time to try out our options. So, Haris will most probably be seen playing in these series."
About Asia Cup and its advantage for Pakistan:
"The Asia Cup means all Asian teams participate, and everyone has a similar advantage. So, if the matches are in Dubai, it's the same for everyone, whether it's India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, or Afghanistan. It's not an alien situation or conditions for anyone. It also depends on the pitches; sometimes they are difficult, sometimes there are options for 200-plus scores. You have to compete, so it's not an advantage or disadvantage for anyone."
"Our preparations are complete because the camp starting on the 8th in Karachi includes both ODI and T20 players. Whatever the final decision is, we are ready for it. Both our ODI and T20 options are having camps and will be ready."
About addressing the spin department struggles:
"Every option is important, whether it's spin or fast bowling. Definitely, there are some new spinners and some old ones. Nawaz is also a good option; he has performed well. But, we have to consider all options."
