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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly considering appointing former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood as the head coach of the national red-ball team.
According to reliable sources, the PCB is actively exploring the option of elevating Mahmood, who signed a two-year coaching contract with the board in April 2024.
He previously served as an assistant coach for the national side but was left out of the coaching panel for the Bangladesh series following Mike Hesson’s appointment as the white-ball head coach.
However, with Mahmood’s contract still valid, the board is keen on utilising his services, this time, potentially as the lead figure in the red-ball coaching department.
Pakistan are set to play two crucial Test series against South Africa and Bangladesh during the remainder of his tenure, making the timing of his potential appointment particularly relevant.
The sources further revealed that a formal announcement regarding the role of Azhar Mahmood is expected in the coming weeks.
It’s worth noting that former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie was initially appointed as Pakistan’s Test coach on April 28, 2024.
Under his leadership, Pakistan endured a 2-0 whitewash at home against Bangladesh but bounced back to clinch a 2-1 series win over England.
Gillespie, however, resigned soon after, citing ongoing communication issues within the PCB.
In a candid interview with Australian media, the ex-coach revealed he was kept in the dark regarding the dismissal of High-Performance Coach Tim Nielsen. This decision played a key role in his exit.
“I was completely unaware of the decision not to retain Tim Nielsen,” Gillespie said.
“This situation, along with past incidents, made me question whether I was truly needed. Not informing the head coach about such a major decision compelled me to think this way.”
Following his departure, the PCB named former fast bowler Aqib Javed as interim head coach for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, scheduled from December 20, 2024, to January 7, 2025, in Centurion and Cape Town.
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