Azhar Mahmood appointed Pakistan's 'acting red-ball head coach' until contract expiration
Former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been named as the Test head coach for Pakistan until his current contract as assistant coach expires in April 2026. The 50-year-old has coaching experience around the globe in franchise cricket and was part of Surrey's backroom staff for two County titles.
Pakistan's assistant head coach since early 2024, Azhar Mahmood has been elevated to the role of head coach in red-ball cricket until his two-year contract expires next year. The retired all-rounder takes over from interim appointee Aaqib Javed, who served the dual role of selector and head coach since October 2024 when Gary Kirsten quit six months into his role as white-ball coach before also taking over the Test team following Jason Gillespie's resignation later in the year. Javed will continue to be on the selection committee while Azhar has until early next year to potentially present his case as a permanent candidate.
Mahmood transitioned into coaching immediately after ending his professional playing career in 2016 with a three-year stint as Pakistan's bowling coach. The tenure included a Champions Trophy title in 2017, following which the 50-year-old has worked in backroom staffs in the Pakistan Super League, Hundred, ILT20, and the English domestic setup. His first stint as head coach came with Islamabad United in 2021, before a role as interim head-coach with Surrey saw the team lift back-to-back County Championships.
"A seasoned cricketing mind, Azhar Mahmood steps into the role with an impressive portfolio of experience. Having served as the assistant head coach of the national side, Azhar has long been a pivotal part of the team's strategic core. His deep knowledge of the game, combined with hands-on international exposure and proven success in the English county circuit, make him exceptionally well-suited for this position," the PCB noted in their press release.
"His red-ball pedigree is underscored by two County Championship titles [with Surrey] - an achievement that speaks volumes about his leadership, tactical acumen and unwavering commitment to excellence. The PCB is confident that under Azhar's guidance, the red-ball squad will continue to grow in strength, discipline and performance on the global stage."
Mahmood's interim tenure will begin by kicking off the new World Test Championshi[ Cycle with a two-match home series against defending champions South Africa in October, and is likely to conclude with two Tests in Bangladesh in March 2026. The veteran's experience of the Pakistan dressing room will prove key to his success, having represented the nation in over 150 games across formats accumulating 2,421 runs and 162 wicket, given the cricketing outfit's propensity for chaos and management shifts. Mahmood's sprimary aim would be to bag as many WTC points as possible after Pakistan finished last amongst nine teams in the previous cycle, but play only five Tests outside Asia in the upcoming two-year period including two Tests in the Caribbean.
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