Azhar Mahmood has ended his spell as Pakistan’s acting Test head coach, eight months before his deal was due to expire in March 2026. With no red-ball cricket on the national calendar until the away tour of Bangladesh next March-April, both he and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed there was little sense in stretching the arrangement.
The former all-rounder – twice capped for Pakistan as a coach – had stepped up to the top job in June, having originally joined as an all-formats assistant in April 2024. In that time he oversaw just one Test series, a 1-1 draw at home to world champions South Africa, widely viewed as a steady if unspectacular return.
“I was appointed by the PCB for a specific tenure, during which I carried out my responsibilities with professionalism and dedication,” Azhar said. “My contract has now come to an end, and I extend my best wishes to the team for their continued success in their future endeavours.”
Those few lines make up the bulk of the official explanation, though insiders suggest the lack of fixtures – coupled with Azhar’s interest in franchise work – made an early parting inevitable. He is currently fast-bowling coach at the Desert Vipers, who top the ILT20 standings, and is expected to remain on the T20 circuit. Previous stops include head coach of Islamabad United in the PSL and assistant coach at Surrey.
Azhar’s exit continues a rapid turnover in Pakistan’s back-room staff. Should the PCB opt for a like-for-like replacement, the Test side would be looking at an eighth head coach since 2021 – a period also marked by shifting job titles (team director, head coach, consultant) and short-term appointments. Former captain Rashid Latif summed up the mood on local television earlier this week: “The players need stability; the constant chopping and changing doesn’t help anyone.”
The board has time on its side, with no five-day cricket for another three months, yet an appointment will still need to mesh with the white-ball set-up led by Gary Kirsten and the fast-bowling unit Jason Gillespie oversees during red-ball windows.
For Azhar, the move feels more like a neat pause than a full stop. Test cricket’s quiet patch offers him room to pursue overseas gigs, while Pakistan have a window to rethink another key position. It is, in essence, a break that suits both parties, even if it underlines once again how frequently the coaching carousel turns in Pakistan cricket.
