PCB loses bowling coach Aaqib Javed to UAE

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board has failed to convince the national team`s bowling coach Aaqib Javed against accepting a stint with the United Arab Emirates team.

A senior PCB official confirmed to PTI that the Board had spoken to Aaqib about his plans to resign as bowling coach and accept the position of head coach with the UAE team. "We spoke to him and tried to convince him that he should carry on working with the board at the national cricket academy and with the Pakistan team. But he made it clear that his decision to join the UAE team was influenced by family pressure," the official said. He said Aaqib had explained that while he remained committed to Pakistan cricket but his family felt moving to Dubai at this time was the right decision. "He and his family are looking to set up home in Dubai where they feel they have better options and a better life style." The PCB official said Aaqib had made it clear that he was not influenced by the financial aspects of the offer from the Emirates Cricket Board. "He will at the end of the year approximately end up making the same money that he gets from the board if one takes into consideration the bonuses and other incentives given to him," the official said. Aaqib, a former fast bowler, is considered a top coach in Pakistan cricket and has been working with the national team. He has also coached the Pakistan junior and A teams with successful results. The PCB saw him as ideal to work with Australian Dav Whatmore who will take charge of the team after the series against England ends in the UAE later this month. PTI