Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal has come out against the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to appoint Azhar Mahmood as the interim head coach of the national Test team, criticising the decision and saying it’s “illogical and reflective of poor management.”
Mahmood will reportedly serve in the role “until the conclusion of his current contract”, likely until March 2026, after being appointed to the role of acting head coach of the Test team. He has been an assistant coach across all three formats since April 2024.
Speaking on the YouTube show The Game Plan podcast, Akmal said, “I just don’t understand the logic behind this decision. It’s exactly like the time PCB made Mickey Arthur director of cricket while allowing him to continue working with a county team. I couldn’t understand it then, and I can’t understand it now.”
Azhar Mahmood is Pakistan’s seventh Test head coach since 2021, succeeding Aaqib Javed, who took over from Jason Gillespie. Akmal blamed Pakistan cricket’s ongoing decline on inconsistent decisions, claiming that these appointments have caused long-term problems.
Lack of Seriousness
“That role (Arthur’s) has continued, and it has brought many issues into Pakistan cricket. The same thing is now happening with the interim coaching setup. Before this, it was Aaqib Javed, then Mohammad Hafeez and now Azhar.”
“These decisions reflect a lack of seriousness. When the PCB starts thinking seriously and acting professionally, it won’t have to make such compromises or temporary appointments,” he added.
Former Pakistan head coach Arthur returned to the side in 2023 as team director, allowing him to continue coaching Derbyshire in England while also working with Pakistan. Mahmood is not expected to continue as white-ball assistant coach while in charge of the Test team, and he was not part of the coaching staff in Pakistan’s recent white-ball series with Bangladesh.
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“Everyone has been appeased, and now Azhar has also been rewarded. If you’ve made him head coach, then give him the full time and responsibility. Otherwise, what’s the point?” said Akmal.
