This post was vacant in the Pakistan team after the resignation of Jason Gillespie in December 2024.
Finally, after a long wait of about 6 months, former cricketer Azhar Mahmood has been appointed as the interim coach of the Pakistan cricket team. Let us tell you that this post in the Pakistan team was vacant since the resignation of Jason Gillespie in December 2024.
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So now, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said in a recent statement that Mahmood will continue to serve in the role of interim Test coach till the expiry of his current contract. After becoming the Test coach, Azhar will be seen performing this responsibility during the home series against South Africa in October at home and against Sri Lanka in December-January.
It is worth noting that Azhar was the assistant coach of the Pakistan national team in April last year. He was the head coach of Pakistan in the home T20 series against New Zealand earlier that month. The 50-year-old former all-rounder represented his country in 143 ODIs and 21 Tests over a period of 20 years from 1996. He retired with 162 international wickets and three centuries.
PCB made a big statement
On appointing Azhar Mahmood as the interim coach of the Pakistan Test team, the Pakistan Cricket Board quoted ESPN Cricinfo as saying – Azhar Mahmood, an experienced cricketer, has taken over the role with great experience. Having served as the assistant head coach of the national team, Azhar has long been a key part of the team’s strategic core.
His deep knowledge of the game, coupled with international experience and proven success in the English county circuit, makes him exceptionally suitable for the position. The PCB is confident that under Azhar’s guidance, the red-ball team will continue to grow in strength, discipline and performance on the global stage.
Well, if we give you information about the last cycle of the World Test Championship, then the Pakistan cricket team finished last in the points table. The Pak team was able to win only five out of the 14 Test matches played.
