PCB sacks Aaqib as assistant coach

Karachi, Aug 21

Former Pakistan Test pacer Aaqib Javed became the most high-profile casualty of the national team's disastrous tour of Sri Lanka when he was sacked Friday as assistant coach.

Aaqib, 37, will not be a part of the Pakistan squad for the Champions Trophy in South Africa and has been replaced by Mohtashim Rasheed, a Karachi-born first-class cricketer who has served as a fielding coach of the national team in the past. Mohtashim, 40, is the younger brother of Haroon Rasheed, a former Pakistan Test batsman, currently serving as PCB's Director of Game Development.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt announced that it has been decided to replace assistant manager Mohammad Ahmed with Shafqat Rana, a former Test cricketer.

However, the PCB decided against replacing the team's 74-year-old manager Yawar Saeed, who was criticized bitterly by the media over his handling of reports of bookies contacting the Pakistani players in Sri Lanka.

Butt made it clear that he will not take decisions to please the media. "We cannot fire our people just because the media wants us to," said Butt, a former Pakistan Test cricketer.

Speaking on the omission of Aaqib from the team management, Butt said he has "better plans" for the former test pacer.

(IANS)