On the eve of UAE’s opening match in the World Cup 2015, coach Aaqib Javed is a satisfied man. There is a quiet confidence in this team, which started its journey as a bunch of no-hopers. But now that they have qualified for the showpiece event of world cricket, one can sense the surging ambition in the players and team management.
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Javed, who as an important member of the Pakistan team that won the 1992 World Cup under Imran Khan, spoke to Sport360’s Joy Chakravarty and revealed that he had focused on four points throughout the preparation period of over nine months, and that he could not fault any member of the team for not sticking to those points.
From winning the World Cup for Pakistan in 1992 to head coach of the UAE team in 2015 – this really is some journey you are on?
AJ: Australia is a very special place for me because I started my international career here. I was part of the Pakistan Under-19 team that came here in 1988 for the first ever Under-19 World Cup. This is the third World Cup I am here, obviously with different teams and in different capacities.
I just can’t explain my feelings when I talk about the 1992 World Cup. I think there is nothing better than that I can experience as a cricketer. That was perhaps the best time of Pakistan cricket.
And then, came the move to UAE. I think most people who knew me were surprised that after being part of international cricket, I was coming down to the level of amateur cricket with the UAE. It took some time for me to adjust, as well as the team to adjust to me. But we have worked really hard as a team and it is wonderful to be back in international cricket.
It was my dream to take the bunch of UAE amateurs to somewhere close to professionalism, and I think we are there. We had three opportunities to qualify for international ICC competitions, and we have done it all. We qualified for the ICC Under-19 World Cup, the ICC World T20 Cup and now the Cricket World Cup.
I am looking forward to UAE giving a good account of themselves in the coming games and in the future.
So far so good Aaqib. You are in the World Cup. Now, what is the realistic goal for the UAE in this tournament?
AJ: See…it’s a process for us. The World Cup preps we started about nine months ago and I think we have achieved all our goals so far.
We were here in Perth and Darwin last year for a prep tour and played two games against Western Australia and Southern Australia and one each against Papua New Guinea and Northern Territories, and we won two matches.
We have been doing really well at the associate level, but this is the next stage. We know there is a gap, but I think we have the ability to push some of the international sides.
Our realistic goal from the World Cup is to win twice, and that doesn’t mean the lowest ranked teams like Zimbabwe and Ireland. Even against the top teams, there are phases in the game when the strongest sides give you the chance to sneak in and exploit their soft underbelly.
We want to play hard cricket, and we want to play cricket that we will be proud of. We know some of the challenges we face here – speed, bounce, etc. We have worked hard on that.
What are the things that you have concentrated on most during your stint so far with the UAE national team?
I have sat with the boys and told them let me be a critic and look at the team. There were four important things that I wanted them to concentrate upon, because if you don’t do these, it looks very bad on the television coverage and gives a very bad impression to the viewers.
The worst is if you do not slide or dive when you are fielding. People will start making fun of you the moment they feel you are not giving your 101 per cent while fielding.
The second thing is if you are batting, and you get scared of a bowler. It looks horrible on TV, and most fans will know immediately that you are scared. I have told all my players, even the No11 batsman – respect that ball, but not the reputation of the bowler.
Thirdly, I think you should look good on the field. It is important that you look like a modern-day athlete. You cannot get away by being unfit in today’s modern cricket. And we have worked hard on that.
And finally, this one is for the bowlers, I have told them even if it is not your day and you are getting hit for plenty, keep trying different things. You’ve got to bowl bouncers, slower bouncers, Yorkers…you’ve got to show them that it may not be your best day, but you are still trying your best.
How important is the presence of the 43-year-old Khurram Khan, the oldest player of this World Cup, in your team?
AJ: Khurram is a very special person. I think I have never seen any person in his 40s playing as well as him. In fact, I think he is the best 43-year-old batsman I have ever seen. He has top commitment to the game and I think he is the perfect role model for any youngster.
I think I am lucky to have someone as experienced as him working with me. After all, the coach can only make a plan. It is then up to the players to execute that plan on the field. And when he is there, I have no worries.
Coming from Pakistan, and having won the World Cup with them, how are you looking forward to UAE’s match against them?
AJ: In 1996, I played for Pakistan against the UAE. And now I am the coach of the UAE.
I have always believed sport is one thing that is beyond boundaries, beyond religions…It is something beautiful.
At Napier while preparing for the World Cup, I met the coaches of Pakistan team like Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Mohammed and Moin Khan, and we were talking and I kept telling them to watch out guys…we are coming to give you guys a hard time.
Honestly, I do believe that we are going to push Pakistan very hard, and win against them.
