According to reports, former Pakistan captain Sarbaraz Ahmed is to be appointed as the new head coach of the Pakistan Test team. Jio News On Wednesday.
An official announcement is expected in the coming days as Sarfaraz will begin his tenure during the two-match Test series against the Bangladesh national cricket team in May.
The post of Pakistan’s Test head coach has been vacant for the past few months.
Azhar Mahmood was serving as the head coach during the domestic series against the South Africa national cricket team, but his tenure ended following a mutual agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Hazard was appointed as the interim head coach in June this year and his contract runs until March 2026.
However, both parties agreed to end his tenure earlier than planned, with no Test matches scheduled until next year’s series in Bangladesh.
Before taking up the acting role, Azhar was appointed assistant coach of all formats in April 2024, working on both the white-ball and red-ball sides.
During his brief spell in charge of the Test team, he oversaw a 1–1 home draw against defending World Test champions South Africa.
Pakistan will tour Bangladesh in May for a two-match Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship. The first Test starts on May 8 and the second on May 16.
A veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, Sarfaraz has been one of Pakistan’s notable performers in the red-ball format. He played 54 Tests and scored 3,031 runs at an average of 37.41, including 21 fifties and four centuries.
In ODIs, the right-hander has amassed 2,315 runs in 117 matches at an average of 33.55, recording 11 fifties and two centuries.
Meanwhile, in T20 Internationals, the 38-year-old has represented Pakistan in 61 matches, scoring 818 runs at a strike rate of 125.26, with three fifties to his name.