Azhar Mahmood’s appointment as the interim head coach of Pakistan’s Test team has raised plenty of eyebrows, and former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has come down hard on the PCB for their decision.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Akmal said the move shows “a lack of seriousness” from the board and sends the wrong message about how Pakistan cricket is being run.
Azhar Mahmood was officially named acting head coach earlier this week after already working as an assistant coach for the national team in all formats since April last year. According to reports, the former all-rounder’s appointment was more a matter of convenience than strategy, and he will hold this role only until the end of his current contract, which runs through March 2026.
But for Kamran Akmal, this temporary arrangement is yet another example of the PCB making decisions without proper planning.
“I just don’t understand the logic behind this decision,” Kamran Akmal said. “It’s exactly like when the PCB made Mickey Arthur the director of cricket but still allowed him to coach Derbyshire at the same time. I couldn’t understand it then, and I can’t understand it now.”
Kamran Akmal pointed out that Pakistan have already had seven different people handling the Test coaching duties since 2021. Just before Azhar’s appointment, Aaqib Javed briefly held the post after Mohammad Hafeez, who had stepped in after Jason Gillespie.
“The role [Arthur’s] has continued, and it has brought many issues to Pakistan cricket,” Kamran Akmal said. “The same thing is happening again with this interim set-up.”
He added that these decisions make it look like Pakistan cricket is not being taken seriously and that the board is only interested in short-term fixes.
“When the PCB starts thinking seriously and acting professionally, it won’t have to make such compromises or temporary appointments,” Kamran Akmal said. “Everyone has been appeased, and now Azhar has also been rewarded. If you’ve made him head coach, then give him the full time and responsibility. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
Azhar Mahmood has had a long association with Pakistan cricket, first as a player and later as a coach. While many feel he understands the dressing-room culture, critics like Kamran Akmal believe the Test side deserves a clear, long-term plan rather than another stopgap arrangement.
As Pakistan get ready for sporadic Test assignments ahead, this latest decision has already sparked debate about whether the team’s leadership is stable enough to deliver consistent results.