Former Pakistani versatile Azhar Mahmood expressed his interest in becoming the next head coach of the national team on Wednesday, saying that he would soon ask for the high pressure position. The PCB was forced to start a new research to find a new head coach and director of the National Cricket Academy after foreign coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie resigned last year, less than eight months after their two-year contracts.
The PCB had appointed one of their selectors, Aaqib Javed as an temporary coach to the T20 series in New Zealand.
Azhar believes that he has “acquired a lot of experience by working as assistant and bowling coach of the Pakistani team in recent years”. He worked with Mickey Arthur, Kirsten and Gillespie.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) set on May 5 as the deadline for candidates interested in applying for head coach.
The PCB has not yet confirmed if he would appoint separate coaches for red and white ball teams or a coach for both formats.
The former Spinner of Pakistan tests, Saqlain Mushtaq, who also worked as acting coach and bowling coach in the past with the national team, would be another solid candidate in the running for future assignments.
According to PCB sources, Mike Hesson in New Zealand is the Runner Front to take over as a chief coach if he agrees to take the mission.
Two years ago, PCB approached Hesson, but he refused the offer because of his previous commitments in the leagues.
Hesson leads to the United Islamabad United Invainu in the Super League Pakistan (PSL).
Pakistan’s first commitment to his new international season will be a T20 series at five home games against Bangladesh at the end of May and early June.
Pakistan has had several foreigners as team director, head coach, high performance coach and even bowling, alignment and coach’s striker since 2023, but most of them have gone in not so unimportant with the PCB.
The list includes Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, Andrew Puttick, Morne Morkel, Tim Nielsen, Simon Helmot, Yasir Arafat, Kirsten and Gillespie.
The PCB has also experienced local coaches, notably Saqlain Mushtaq, Muhammad Hafeez, Aaqib Javed not to forget the long list of local strike, bowling and land coaches. Pti Corr at AT
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