ISLAMABAD: Assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and former New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson have emerged as leading contenders for the role of head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, according to media reports on Thursday.
To accelerate the appointment of a permanent head coach, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a four-member committee consisting of Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed, Bilal Afzal, selector Azhar Ali, and former interim head coach Aqib Javed.
This committee has been tasked with evaluating candidates and submitting its recommendations to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi upon completion of the selection process.
Sources indicate that six candidates have been shortlisted so far, including four foreign nationals – among them Hesson – while Azhar Mahmood is one of the two domestic candidates under consideration.
Pakistan coaching setup
The Pakistan men’s coaching setup has experienced notable instability in recent months. In April last year, former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie was appointed as red-ball head coach on a two-year contract.
However, his tenure was short-lived due to inconsistent results and internal issues, leading to his resignation in December ahead of Pakistan’s home Test series against South Africa.
Gillespie’s departure came shortly after Gary Kirsten stepped down as white-ball head coach in October, having served only six months in the role.
Reports at the time suggested Kirsten faced difficulties working with PCB officials and struggled to adapt to the team’s management structure.
Following these exits, former Pakistan pacer Aqib Javed was appointed as interim head coach until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He was later granted an extension for the national side’s white-ball tour of New Zealand.
However, the PCB has now opted not to extend Javed’s tenure further.
Meanwhile, Javed is reportedly set to take over as Director of the High-Performance Centre, with an official announcement expected in due course.
Despite this new responsibility, he is likely to continue in his role as national selector.
