According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will likely appoint Azhar Mahmood as the new head coach of the Pakistan men’s Cricket team.
Speaking in an interview, Azhar Mahmood said, “I’m definitely going to apply for the Pakistan team head coach role,” he stated.
Pakistan are on the verge of finding a new head coach and director of the National Cricket Academy after foreign coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie resigned last year, less than eight months after signing two-year contracts.
Azhar Mahmood is currently employed with the Pakistan team as their assistant coach and was also the bowling coach in the past.
The appointment of a new head coach is crucial, with Pakistan gearing up T20 World Cup and other assignments.
Mehmood who served as Pakistan’ bowling coach from 2016-19, was appointed as interim head coach for tour of New Zealand in 2024.
Meanwhile, Pakistan are littered with news that Mike Hesson, who also coached the New Zealand team in the past, is also in contention for the new head coach of Team Pakistan after impressing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2025) with Islamabad United.
Hesson is the head coach of the Islamabad United and are currently at the top of the PSL 2025 points table.
One of the biggest achievements for Hesson at the international level was taking New Zealand to the 2015 World Cup finals. Hesson was with the Bengaluru franchise for four years from 2019-2023 and helped them reach the playoffs in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Mo Bobat is now the Director of Cricket Operations at RCB, while Andy Flower is the head coach. While Hesson being a solid choice, PCB’s ongoing tussle with former head coach Jason Gillespie has been accused them of not clearing his dues, could impact the New Zealander’s decision.
PCB is expected to announce the new coach and Aaqib Javed‘s replacement by the start of the West Indies tour which begin on July 31.
