Pakistan are set to make changes to their coaching setup ahead of the upcoming Test tour of Bangladesh, with former cricketers Umar Gul and Asad Shafiq likely to join the backroom staff.
Sources said Umar Gul is expected to be appointed bowling coach for the two-match series, while Asad Shafiq is likely to take over as batting coach. Abdul Saad is also in line to be added as fielding coach after previously serving in the same role with Pakistan’s women’s team.
Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is also expected to be handed a major role, with plans under discussion to appoint him as head coach for the Bangladesh tour.
The series, expected to be played from May 8 to 20, will mark Pakistan’s return to red-ball cricket after several months. Their last Test assignment came at home against South Africa in October last year.
Preparations for the tour are already in progress at the National Cricket Academy, where an 18-player training camp is currently underway. The camp will continue until April 20, with selectors keeping a close eye on performances before naming the final squad.
Pakistan are expected to leave for Bangladesh on May 3, although talks over the final squad and support staff are still continuing.
The red-ball camp includes a mix of experienced and emerging domestic players as Pakistan look to strengthen their options for the next phase of the World Test Championship cycle.
The players currently attending the camp are Afaq Afridi, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Hasan Raza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Suleman, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Musa Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Naqeebullah, Niaz Khan, Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir, Saad Khan, Saifullah Bangash, Sajid Khan, Salman Khan and Waqar Ahmed.
