Pakistan cricket team’s head coach, Aaqib Javed, came to the defence of the national squad following their exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, he stated that while the team’s performance was not up to the mark, it is not possible to drop senior players and replace them with an under-19 lineup.

He emphasised that it was the entire team that lost, not just one or two individuals, and acknowledged that the players themselves were disheartened by their performance.

Javed pointed out that Pakistan had to defend 240 runs, which required taking wickets and attacking aggressively.

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He remarked that had they posted 280 runs against India, the outcome might have been different.

He also noted that fans were mixing T20 and ODI performances and stressed the need to improve skills.

“No one can be satisfied after a loss,” he admitted.

Refuting criticism over team selection, he asserted that the squad fielded in the Champions Trophy was the best possible combination, with every player earning their place through performance.

He dismissed the notion that a single missing player could have changed the result.

“The reality is that our team did not perform well, but we cannot just remove everyone and play an under-19 team,” he said.

Javed highlighted the impact of injuries to key players like Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman.

He also stated that Pakistan has no direct replacement for Babar Azam and that while senior players did not perform as expected, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf remain top-class bowlers.

During the press conference, when asked by a journalist if he was satisfied with the team selection, Javed admitted, “You can never be fully satisfied.”

He stressed the importance of improving Pakistan’s cricketing structure and ensuring that the selection committee picks the best available players.

He also acknowledged India’s experience as a key factor in their success.

The coach’s remarks come amid widespread criticism following Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament, sparking debate over team selection and strategy.