Islamabad, June 30, 2025: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally named former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood as the acting head coach of Pakistan’s Test squad, addressing the team need for a red-ball head coach.
Azhar Mahmood, who has previously served in various coaching roles with the PCB, will continue red-ball coaching role until the end of his current agreement with the board. This announcement comes as Pakistan remains in search of permanent coaching figures for the men’s squads across all formats.
Mahmood was selected for the position due to his in-depth knowledge of Pakistan’s coaching framework. He had also worked as deputy to the previous full-time red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, whom he now replaces.
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Azhar Mahmood, a prominent name in Pakistan cricket, featured in 21 Tests and 143 One-Day Internationals during a career that lasted nearly ten years before he shifted focus to coaching, which included terms as the national team’s bowling coach and roles in franchise leagues worldwide.
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Azhar Mahmood’s first assignment as the red-ball coach will be the home series against South Africa in October, giving him enough time to prepare the team according to his strategy. With Mike Hesson overseeing the white-ball formats and Azhar Mahmood now leading the Test side, a fresh chapter in Pakistan cricket is underway—one.
