Aaqib Javed hints at Fakhar Zaman's return to national squad

Interim head coach of Pakistan's national white-ball cricket team, Aqib Javed, has suggested that Fakhar Zaman could make a comeback to the team, provided he regains full fitness.

Speaking to the media at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Javed shared that Zaman is currently facing fitness challenges, but if he recovers and is fully fit, he may be considered for upcoming series.

Javed emphasized the importance of improving the Pakistan cricket team's performance under his leadership as both selector and interim coach. 

"The primary objective of taking up this responsibility is to elevate the performance of the Pakistan team," Javed said. 

"Following the shortcomings seen during the Australia tour, our focus is to build the best possible ODI team for the ICC Champions Trophy. In Pakistan's conditions, the role of spinners has always been vital, and we will aim to provide opportunities to talented players and help them succeed at the international level," he further added.

On the upcoming Zimbabwe tour, Javed expressed his determination to showcase strong performances, stating, "I have been coaching for 20 years, and in the future, I will choose between being a selector or a coach. For now, the focus is on building a winning team."

Addressing Fakhar Zaman's fitness, Javed added, "If Fakhar regains full fitness, he will definitely be considered for selection." 

Javed also spoke highly of Saim Ayub's performance, noting that the young batter has performed exceptionally well in ODIs and Test matches compared to T20 formats. 

"Saim's exclusion from the T20 series in Australia was due to his focus on improving in other formats," he explained.

Looking ahead, Javed underlined the importance of conditioning and team requirements, saying, "While strike rates matter, the primary goal is victory, and we will focus on achieving that to ensure positive results for the team.