Pakistan Assigns New Head Coach for 2025-27 Test Championship Cycle. On the last day of June, PCB publishes press news on Azhar Mahmood’s selection as Test head coach. He will provide his services until his departure as an assistant coach in April 2026. He was attached as an assistant coach in 2024.

The cricket board trusted the potential of a retired all-rounder. They said; the record of a 50-year-old in a long format is appreciable. His leadership skills came out as proof in the English field during the County Championship. Under his command, Surrey holds the title twice.

His extreme understanding of 4-day cricket made him the top choice during this evolution period. Pakistan Board believes that Azhar can be the person to improve the competition level of the Pakistan test team in the upcoming WTC. Green Shirt’s next series will be against the Proteas and Sri Lanka at home.

He substituted the fast bowler Aqib Javed who was designated after the quitting of Gillespie in 2024. Azhar will continue his duties in a white ball as an assistant head coach with Mike Hesson. He appeared in 21 tests, dismissed 39 batters and scored 3 hundreds for the Pakistan national side.