Aaqib Javed relieved of assistant coach's job

After getting rid of Intikhab Alam, manager of the national team, the Pakistan Cricket Board sacked assistant coach Aaqib Javed and assistant manager Shahid Aslam for tour of Zimbabwe.

The changes in the team management come in the wake of former captain Sahid Afridi's scathing remarks about the team management's performance.

However, interestingly, Afridi had praised the role of Aaqib, terming him a good coach while advising Waqar Younis to enroll for a coaching course.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, in a statement, insisted the decision to make changes in the team management was mainly due to the fact that Intikhab, Aaqib and Shahid are all closely involved in the NCA programs and need to devote more time to their responsibilities at the academy.

"Intikhab Alam has done a commendable job as National Team Manager. His experience as a cricketer and as a cricket administrator is always a great help. Being Director Game Development he is needed in Pakistan to execute game development plans. As we announce the team management on

tour-to-tour basis, so for Zimbabwe tour, Mr Naveed Akram Cheema is entrusted with this responsibility," Butt said.

Intikhab, in a statement, expressed gratitude to the PCB for trusting him with responsibilities of Team Manager in the past.

"At the moment my focus is the player development programs. We have started Academies program in the country which many upcoming players are attending. Under-16 talent-hunt program is underway in more than 45 districts throughout Pakistan and we are working on some more programs for the winter," Alam said.