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Azhar Mahmood steps down as another Pakistan head coach prematurely ends term

Aakash Saini

Azhar Mahmood steps down as Pakistan coach [Source: @MuzamalDhother/x]Azhar Mahmood steps down as Pakistan coach [Source: @MuzamalDhother/x]

Former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has stepped down as Pakistan head coach in Test cricket. The cricketer-turned-coach was appointed as Pakistan’s Test head coach earlier this year on an interim basis, and his contract was due to run until March 2026 next year.

During his tenure, the Pakistan team failed to defeat WTC holders South Africa at home as they managed a 1-1 draw in their two-match Test series a couple of months ago.

Azhar Mahmood steps down prematurely, Test spot now vacant

Azhar Mahmood was appointed as acting head coach of the Pakistan Test side back in June this year. He ended up coaching the Pakistan national team in only one Test series, doing so in October with their two-match rubber against South Africa.

While Pakistan won the series-opener in Lahore by 93 runs, South Africa returned the favor in the decider with an eight-wicket margin to level the two-match series 1-1. Earlier this year, Pakistan also failed to defeat West Indies at home.

While Azhar Mahmood’s stint as Pakistan Test head coach was set to run until March 2026, no Tests in sight prompted the former cricketer to step down from the role prematurely.

Speaking with ESPNCricinfo, Mahmood stated that his appointment as Pakistan head coach by the PCB was always confined for a “specific period”. The ex-cricketer confirmed that his contract has now ended, and he extended his best wishes to the Pakistan team for their “continued success in future endeavors”.

Originally, he was appointed as Pakistan’s all-format assistant coach back in mid-2024 last year, in a bid to support Gary Kirsten in T20Is and ODIs, and former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie in Test matches.

The Pakistan cricket team is currently helmed by New Zealand’s Mike Hesson in white-ball cricket, and one of his primary tasks is to guide the ‘Men in Green’ at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.