‘Fake news’: Aaqib Javed dismisses reports of resignation amid Pakistan cricket shake-up

Aaqib Javed has dismissed reports of his exit from the PCB as “fake news” amid speculation of a major shake-up after Pakistan’s England whitewash.

National selector Aaqib Javed on Wednesday dismissed media reports that he is all set to face the axe in a fresh shake-up for Pakistan cricket in the wake of the team's Test series whitewash in England. Pakistan lost 0-3 earlier this month, falling to ninth in the latest ICC Test rankings.

According to a report in the PTI on Tuesday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi lost his patience after the recent defeat in England, and realised there was a need for "some radical measures" to put an end to the "losing streak and abrupt happenings in Pakistan cricket." The report indicated that the move involved changes in the national selection committee, with the release of former Test cricketer Javed from his duties as senior selector.

However, Javed refuted the report, calling it "fake news."

“No resignation, it’s fake news,” he told Pakistani media outlet Dawn.

The PTI report also indicated that the decision regarding Javed came after criticism of Pakistan for dropping seven players midway through the Test tour of England and releasing two coaches from the squad. In the aftermath, Misbah-ul-Haq also resigned from the selection committee after the selectors were sent a show-cause notice by the PCB.

However, the drastic move did not change Pakistan's fortune. Despite putting on a great fight in the second innings of the third Test at Edgbaston, Pakistan lost.

The turmoil deepened after two of those seven players - Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were summoned by Pakistan's cybercrime agency over alleged dressing room leaks.

The report had also indicated that Wahab Riaz, who has been working as a mentor with the national women's team since last year, is also likely to be released along with the coaching staff after the Asian Games in Japan. However, there has been no statement from him to clarify or confirm the report.

- Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More