Aaqib Javed dismisses reports of resignation, removal as ‘fake news’

National selector Aaqib Javed firmly denied reports of his resignation or removal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday, dismissing the claims as "fake news" in a text message to Dawn. The speculation about a major shake-up in the board's cricket administration originated from multiple outlets citing internal sources, suggesting that PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was contemplating radical changes.

These changes reportedly included Aaqib's potential removal from his role as senior selector and Wahab Riaz's dismissal as mentor of the women's team following the Asian Games in Japan. Aaqib, who was a part of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning team, has been an integral part of PCB's decision-making process for the past two years.

He holds positions on the national selection committee and as director of high performance. Aaqib's critics have accused him of causing frequent changes in coaching staff and captaincy, including the controversial mid-series overhaul during Pakistan's recent Test tour of England. The team suffered a 3-0 whitewash and dropped to the bottom of the World Test Championship table after the loss.

Despite the controversies, Aaqib had previously stated he had no intention of stepping down from his position. Reports also indicated that the white-ball coach Mike Hesson's potential involvement in managing the Test side might have prompted the latest reconsideration.