Former cricketer questions Azhar Mahmood's appointment as interim coach

Former wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has come down hard on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over its latest move to name Azhar Mahmood as the interim head coach of the national red-ball side.

The PCB, on Monday, announced that the former all-rounder would take over as the acting red-ball head coach for the national team until the end of his current contract.

Mahmood, who has previously served as assistant coach, steps in as the latest addition to what has been a revolving door of coaching appointments.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kamran Akmal expressed his frustration with the decision, likening it to the board’s much-debated move of appointing Mickey Arthur as team director while he continued his county commitments.

“I just don’t understand the logic behind this decision,” Akmal said bluntly.

“It’s the same as when they made Mickey Arthur director of cricket but allowed him to work in county cricket. That didn’t make sense then, and this doesn’t make sense now.”

Akmal pointed to the instability such ad-hoc appointments have caused within Pakistan cricket and argued that this trend of temporary arrangements is contributing to the team’s ongoing struggles.

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“Arthur’s appointment opened the door to problems in Pakistan cricket, and we’re seeing the same pattern now,” he added.

“Later it was Mohammad Hafeez, then Aaqib Javed, now Azhar Mahmood, it’s a cycle that keeps repeating.”

Urging the PCB to make long-term, professional decisions, Kamran Akmal warned against a ‘please-all’ approach that, in his view, rewards loyalty over merit and vision.

“These are not the signs of a serious setup. When the PCB starts acting professionally, it won’t need to resort to such compromises or patchwork appointments,” he said.

He also questioned whether Azhar’s appointment was more about ticking boxes than building a stable coaching structure.

“Everyone’s been accommodated at some point, and now Azhar has also been rewarded,” Akmal remarked.

“If you’re going to make him the head coach, then give him the full-time role with proper authority. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

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