Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has concluded his tenure as interim head coach of the national Test side, ESPNcricinfo has reported.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had appointed Azhar as acting head coach of Pakistan’s red-ball team in June, with his contract originally set to run until March 2026.
However, with no Test cricket scheduled until Pakistan’s away tour of Bangladesh in March to April next year, both parties have decided to bring the arrangement to an early close, the report said Tuesday.
The decision draws the curtain on a longer association between Azhar and the national side. He initially joined the coaching setup in April 2024 as an all-format assistant coach, working alongside Gary Kirsten with the white-ball teams and Jason Gillespie with the Test side.
The PCB elevated Azhar to the role of interim Test head coach following the early exits of both Kirsten and Gillespie. During his brief spell in charge, Azhar oversaw just one Test assignment, guiding Pakistan to a credible 1-1 home series draw against world Test champions South Africa.
“I was appointed by the PCB for a specific tenure, during which I carried out my responsibilities with professionalism and dedication,” Azhar told ESPNcricinfo.
“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,” he said.
This marks Azhar’s second stint with Pakistan’s national team. He previously served as the bowling coach during Mickey Arthur’s tenure between 2016 and 2019.
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