DUBAI: Pakistan interim head coach Aqib Javed admitted on Saturday that fitness is the biggest challenge in 50-over cricket, urging the need to improve fitness levels a lot.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash at the Champions Trophy 2025, Aqib Javed acknowledged that focusing on T20 cricket throughout the year can make it challenging for players to adapt to the longer format.
He noted that after the initial 20 overs, the remaining 30 overs can be a struggle for the team to complete.
Aqib Javed stated, “I believe that 50-over cricket has become more challenging. After the 35th to 40th over, the game becomes about fitness. We need to significantly improve our fitness levels.”
He added, “Our main focus throughout the year is on T20 cricket, which is why, in ODIs, after the first 20 overs, the remaining 30 overs become a challenge. After the 20th over, the team must remain engaged and focused for another 30 overs. Fitness is the key—especially when you have to stay on the field for three and a half hours in a fast-paced game.”
The head coach rejected suggestions that Pakistan is still playing “old cricket,” attributing the team’s approach to mindset and adapting to pitch and conditions.
The head coach said, “It’s all about mindset—how you think and create an environment. We will play according to the pitch and conditions. We can’t play T20-style cricket in an ODI match.”
Aqib Javed acknowledged that every match comes with its own pressure. He pointed out that New Zealand is a very strong side with a good balance.
He dismissed any notion that the previous defeat would impact the next match, stating, “It doesn’t make any difference. After losing one game, there’s always another opportunity to win, and a victory in the third match will take us to the semi-finals.”
When asked about the pressure of playing against India, Aqib Javed emphasized that a Pakistan-India game is more than just a regular contest.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a knockout match; the Pakistan vs India match is beyond the game itself. That’s the beauty of Ind-Pak cricket. If you look at it positively, all the players are eager to step up and deliver beyond expectations.”
He also downplayed the pressure of the India-Pakistan match, saying that it’s an opportunity for players to rise to the occasion.
The India-Pakistan match is expected to be a high-stakes encounter, with Pakistan facing a must-win situation after losing their opening match to New Zealand. On the other hand, India won their opener against Bangladesh.
Read More: Shubman Gill opens up on upcoming Pak-India clash at CT 2025
Meanwhile, Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill has said that batting second will be under pressure in the hotly-anticipated IND v PAK clash at the Champions Trophy 2025.
Addressing a press conference, Shubman Gill emphasised that batting second will be more challenging due to the absence of dew on Sunday, which has historically played a significant role in Dubai.
“We definitely want to play positive and aggressive cricket. 300-325 will be a very good score on this wicket. The team batting well in the middle overs will have a better chance of winning,” Gill said. “Toss won’t matter as there is no dew. Team batting second will have more pressure”.
Gill scored a century in India’s first match against Bangladesh.
He believes that a score of 300-325 would be “very good” on the Dubai pitch, stressing the importance of playing positively and aggressively, particularly during the middle overs.
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