Azhar Mahmood Appointed as Acting Red-Ball Head Coach of Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood as the acting red-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team. His tenure will continue until April 2026, aligning with the duration of his current contract.
During this period, Pakistan is scheduled to play two crucial Test series—against South Africa and Bangladesh—as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27.
In a formal announcement, the PCB highlighted Mahmood’s long-standing role in Pakistan’s coaching structure, noting his time as assistant head coach and his significant contributions to the team’s strategic development.
“A seasoned cricketing mind, Azhar Mahmood brings with him a wealth of experience both on the field and in coaching roles. His previous work as assistant head coach and success in international and domestic circuits makes him a valuable asset for the red-ball format,” the PCB stated.
The board lauded Mahmood’s red-ball accomplishments, especially his two County Championship titles, emphasizing his leadership, tactical expertise, and dedication to excellence.
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Azhar Mahmood, 50, signed a two-year contract with PCB in April 2024 but was not part of the coaching panel during the T20I series against Bangladesh in May, which Pakistan won 3-0. The exclusion followed the appointment of Mike Hesson as the white-ball head coach, who reportedly considered incorporating Islamabad United’s coaching staff into the national setup.
Despite that phase, Mahmood now takes on a pivotal role as Pakistan sets its sights on long-format success. The team’s WTC campaign will kick off with a two-Test home series against South Africa in October-November, followed by a two-Test away series in Bangladesh in March-April 2026.
This development comes after Jason Gillespie, Pakistan’s previous red-ball head coach, resigned citing internal communication challenges within the PCB. Under Gillespie, Pakistan faced a 2-0 Test series defeat to Bangladesh but bounced back with a 2-1 home series win over England.
The PCB expressed confidence in Mahmood’s ability to instill discipline, consistency, and strength in the red-ball squad, paving the way for a more competitive Test side on the global stage.
