Published: Apr 30, 2025, 02:53 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 30, 2025, 02:55 PM (IST)
Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood on Wednesday expressed his interest in becoming the next head coach of the national team, saying he will soon apply for the high-pressure post.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was forced to begin a fresh search 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 then eight months into their two-year contracts.
The PCB then named one of their selectors, Aaqib Javed as the national team’s interim head coach until the T20 series in New Zealand.
Azhar reckons that he has “gained a lot of experience while working as assistant and bowling coach of the Pakistan team in recent years” after working with the likes of Kirsten, Gillespie and Micky Arthur.
The PCB has set May 5 as the deadline for interested candidates to apply for the head coach position. The board has also not yet specified whether they will appoint separate coaches for the red and white ball teams or one coach for both formats.
According to PCB sources, New Zealand’s Mike Hesson is the front runner to take over as head coach if he agrees to take up the assignment. Hesson is currently coaching the undefeated Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
