Former Pakistan international Kamran Akmal has criticised the appointment of Azhar Mahmood as interim Pakistan Test head coach, saying that the decision shows "a lack of seriousness" from the PCB.
Mahmood was appointed to the role of acting Test head coach this week, having been an assistant coach across all-formats since April last year. He will reportedly serve in the role "until the conclusion of his current contract", likely until March 2026. He is the seventh person since 2021 to take on the role of Pakistan's Test head coach, succeeding Aaqib Javed, who himself succeeded Jason Gillespie.
Speaking on the appointment of Azhar to Test head coach on The Game Plan podcast, Akmal criticised the PCB. "I just don't understand the logic behind this decision," he said. "It's exactly like the time the 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."
Kamran Akmal has expressed his concerns over the PCB’s decision to name Azhar Mahmood as the interim red-ball coach.#Cricket pic.twitter.com/9xTAcKZtOc
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 1, 2025
Former Pakistan head coach Arthur returned to work with the side in 2023 as their team director, which would allow him to keep up his commitments coaching Derbyshire in England while also working with Pakistan. Mahmood is not expected to continue his role as white-ball assistant coach while he is in charge of the Test side, and he wasn't part of the coaching set-up in Pakistan's recent white-ball series against Bangladesh.
"The role [Arthur's] has continued, and it has brought many issues to Pakistan cricket," continued Akmal. "The same thing is now happening with the interim coaching set-up. 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... 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?"
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