The Pakistan Cricket Board and the Test team’s head coach have parted ways. It is reported that the PCB has severed ties with Test coach Azhar Mahmood three months before his contract was set to expire. Former Test all-rounder Mahmood’s contract was until March 2026.
The coach of the Test team left Pakistan cricket team
A reliable source within the Pakistan Cricket Board said that since Azhar’s contract expires in March and Pakistan’s Test matches begin in March 2026, it would be better for the board to start planning for a new head coach in advance. Mahmood has held various positions with the Pakistan team over the past few years. He had a two-year contract with the board. He was appointed head coach of the Test team last year. The source told PTI that the PCB has now begun searching for a new head coach for the Test team. Changes in the support staff are also likely.
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It is worth noting that Pakistan’s matches in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 will begin with a tour of Bangladesh in March this year. The team will then tour the West Indies in July and England in August-September. Pakistan will host Sri Lanka and New Zealand in November-December 2026 and March 2027.
The Test team has had interim coaches like Aaqib Javed and Mahmood since the PCB and Australian Jason Gillespie decided to part ways due to differences over selection matters in early 2024. The PCB is also searching for a head coach for the women’s cricket team after Mohammad Wasim’s contract was not renewed after the ICC World Cup in September-October.
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The Pakistan cricket team will begin the new year with a T20I series against Sri Lanka. The tour will consist of three matches. The first match will be played on January 7th. The second and third matches will be held on January 9th and 11th, respectively. All matches will be played in Dambulla.