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'Change The Team,'  Aaqib Javed Breaks Rumours After Pakistan's Premature CT 2025 Exit

Arnav Chopra

Aaqib Javed and Babar Azam (Source: @kashmiriSays_/X.com, @mufaddal_vohra/X.com)Aaqib Javed and Babar Azam (Source: @kashmiriSays_/X.com, @mufaddal_vohra/X.com)

The blame game had already begun in Pakistan, where the hosts of the Champions Trophy 2025 were eliminated after just two games. However, the head coach, Aaqib Javed, has come forward to defend his side. 

Aaqib Javed Defends Pakistan Side After Champions Trophy Debacle

The Pakistan side, led by Mohammad Rizwan, had to face severe backlash from the fans and media back home in Pakistan, as they crashed out of the tournament after losing to India and New Zealand in their first two games. However, their head coach, Aaqib Javed, has confirmed that there will be no significant knee-jerk reactions to these losses.

Several media publications and news reports claimed that the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) is looking to make several changes in the squad, which might likely lead to the removal of several high-profile players from the side, as there is panic in the team right now.

Quashing those rumours, Javed has openly confirmed in the press conference that they will back the side until they can, adding that if the team does not lose because of a player, but instead the team loses as a whole, so there should be no finger pointing at one or two players in the side.

He went further and supported his prime pacers, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, to be back in form and perform for them in the upcoming years.

“A common fan watching the match wants an explanation for why the team lost. But there’s no single reason or just one or two players to blame—the entire team lost. Shaheen, Haris, and Naseem—everyone knows they are our best pacers and the future of Pakistan,”

Moreover, Javed defended Babar Azam and backed his experience to come in handy in tricky situations going forward. He then compared Azam's experience with other players and asked everyone to understand the importance of having Babar in the team.

“As for Babar Azam, tell me, who else is at his level right now? People keep saying to change the team entirely, but look at the experience level—except for Babar, no one in this squad has played 100 matches,"

Additionally, Aaqib was relatively straightforward in elaborating that they had success in both Australia and South Africa, which means they should not be concerned about these two losses, as this team is likely to come good in the upcoming tournaments.

“Yes, they have talent and past performances to back them up, but in recent games, they underperformed. That doesn’t mean they don’t belong in the team. This is the same squad that won series in Australia and South Africa, creating history. We’ve already introduced several new players and are trying to build a stronger team."

Pakistan To Face Bangladesh In Rawalpindi

As for the Champions Trophy, Pakistan only has one game left, which will be against Bangladesh on the 27th of February, to be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the penultimate match of Group A.