Javed carries UAE experience for Lahore’s title campaign

Dubai. Former UAE national team coach Aaqib Javed, who is now the head coach of the Lahore Qalandars team, knows the condition and pitches in Dubai and Sharjah like the back of his hand.

When asked about his new role, Javed expressed his happiness over the UAE qualifying for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers by emerging as the champions of the ICC World Cricket League last week in Namibia.

“I am glad the UAE qualified for the World Cup qualifiers and I am really happy for them because I still consider the UAE as my team. It will be good fun here in my new role for Lahore because the UAE is like a second home for me.”

Javed admitted that his knowledge of the conditions here is an advantage. “I had a very good four and half years experience here with UAE team. I have been also visiting UAE regularly in the role of the coach of the Pakistan junior and national teams that has played so many games in Dubai and Sharjah stadiums. So definitely you cannot beat experience and that experience will help me immensely.”

Javed began as Lahore team director last year and took over as head coach when their coach Paddy Upton left the post. “Last year I joined Lahore but did not want to take this role right away mainly because this is franchise cricket and frankly I had no idea about it. I was working with national teams and that was entirely different from PSL type leagues. This has got an entirely different style of coaching and management so after gaining the experience last year and based on that experience I decided to come forward and take the responsibility. I am really excited now and because I know little bit of franchise cricket by now as to how it runs, how to motivate everyone, and bring on the table all the different players — the internationals as well as Pakistan players. In this you need to have a good blend and so far, so good.”