Aqib Javed mission destroy Pakistan cricket – this was the top trend on social media after the national squad announcement on 17 August 2025. The absence of two former captains, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, along with pacer Naseem Shah, shocked fans and triggered heated debates in cricket circles.
Chief selector Aqib Javed and head coach Mike Hesson defended the decision in a press conference, and saying the squad was picked according to conditions and long-term plans. But fans did not accept the explanation. Instead, they blamed poor selection for Pakistan’s recent failures.
On X, a user named Syed Says posted that Aqib Javed mission destroy Pakistan cricket is clear. As Pakistan lost T20I series to Australia’s B team and South Africa’s B team, finished ninth in the World Test Championship, forced coach Jason Gillespie to resign. And faced humiliation in the Champions Trophy.
Another user, Hassan Abbasian, wrote that everything changed in Pakistan cricket, with star players dropped, big tournaments lost. And coaches leaving, but Aqib Javed is still in power without any scrutiny. Javed Afridi, owner of Peshawar Zalmi, sparked controversy by insisting that Babar and Rizwan should return to the team.
At the same time, some fans defended Aqib Javed. A user named Sher Ali wrote that he always believed in him, praising Javed for dropping Babar Azam from T20Is permanently and hinting that ODIs and Tests could be next.
The exclusion of big names from a major tournament after years has made this squad announcement one of the most controversial moments in Pakistan cricket’s recent history. The real test now is whether the new leadership and combination can meet expectations.
