Pakistan Appoints Azhar Mahmood as Red-Ball Head Coach Ahead of WTC 2025–27

Azhar Mahmood is set to take charge as Pakistan’s new Test coach, stepping into the role after Jason Gillespie departed and Aaqib Javed stepped aside. Known for frequent leadership changes, Pakistan have chosen Mahmood, who’s familiar with the team from his time as bowling coach, assistant coach and even briefly as head coach. His first big task will be leading the side in the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa kicking off their next World Test Championship campaign.

"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 said in a statement.

"His red-ball pedigree is underscored by two County Championship titles - 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." the statement added.

Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie Resign Within Months

It all began when the PCB handed full control, including the powers of the coach and captain, to then chief selector Wahab Riaz, which didn’t sit well with the coaching staff. As a result, Gary Kirsten stepped down as white-ball coach, followed by Jason Gillespie quitting as red-ball coach both had been in the role for less than nine months. Meanwhile, Aaqib Javed, who was being considered for the head coach position, reportedly lost interest in the job and instead showed interest in becoming the high-performance director. Notably, Javed had already been given two extensions one until the ICC Champions Trophy and another until the white-ball tour of New Zealand.

Azhar Mahmood was a true all‑rounder for Pakistan, featuring in 21 Tests and 143 ODIs between 1996 and 2007. In Test cricket, he scored 900 runs at an impressive average of 30.00 including a century and three fifties while claiming 39 wickets at an average of 35.95, with best figures of 4/50. In ODIs, he played 143 matches, scoring 1,521 runs at 18.10

Pakistan Men’s Cricket Coaching Staff

SEE ALSO: IPL 2026: 3 Big Names MI Could Target in the Mini Auction ft. Liam Livingstone