Pakistan’s red-ball leadership structure appears set for another shift as the national team prepares for its next ICC World Test Championship assignment.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is preparing to appoint former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as the new Head Coach of the Pakistan Men’s Test team, according to a report by Geo News.
Appointment expected before Bangladesh Test series
An official announcement is anticipated in the coming days, with Sarfaraz expected to begin his tenure during Pakistan’s upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh in May.
The series forms part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle and will mark Pakistan’s next red-ball assignment. The first Test is scheduled to begin on 8 May, followed by the second match on 16 May.
Pakistan currently sit fifth in the World Test Championship standings after beginning the cycle with a drawn home series against South Africa last October.
Vacancy follows interim stint by Azhar Mahmood
The role of permanent Test Head Coach has remained unoccupied in recent months.
Azhar Mahmood had been overseeing the side in an interim capacity, guiding the team during the home series against South Africa which ended in a 1–1 draw against the reigning World Test Champions.
Mahmood initially stepped into the acting role in June and was expected to remain in the position until March 2026. However, with no Tests scheduled for several months, the Pakistan Cricket Board and Mahmood agreed to conclude his interim tenure earlier than planned.
Prior to serving as acting Head Coach, Mahmood had worked with the national setup as an all-formats Assistant Coach since April 2024.
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s coaching journey gains momentum
Sarfaraz began his coaching pathway in November 2025 when he joined Pakistan’s development structure, working with the Pakistan Shaheens and the Under-19 setup.
His early success in the role included guiding Pakistan’s Under-19 team to victory in the Asia Cup, where the side defeated India in the final.
The achievement strengthened his credentials as a potential candidate for the national red-ball coaching position and added momentum to discussions around his elevation to the senior team.
Former captain brings extensive international experience
Sarfaraz enjoyed a long international career for Pakistan between 2007 and 2023, representing the country across all three formats.
In Test cricket, he played 54 matches and scored 3,031 runs at an average of 37.41, including four centuries and 21 half-centuries. He also captained Pakistan in 13 Tests, recording four victories during his tenure, including a notable win against England at Lord’s in 2018.
His most recent Test appearance came against Australia in Perth in 2023.
Across white-ball formats, Sarfaraz featured in 117 One Day Internationals, scoring 2,315 runs with two centuries and 11 half-centuries, while also representing Pakistan in 61 T20 Internationals where he scored 818 runs.
As captain, he is widely remembered for leading Pakistan to victory in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, including the final against India.
