New Delhi: The revolving door in Pakistan cricket leadership continues to spin. In the latest reshuffle, the Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood as the acting head coach of the men’s red-ball team. Pakistanis are angry. They see this as yet another downfall of Pakistan cricket. Most can’t wait for the next ‘masterclass in failure’.
“Azhar Mahmood is a useless coach, He has been sucking the blood of Pakistan talent for the last many decades now…,” a Pakistani X user Atif wrote.
Fifty-year-old Mahmood takes over from Aaqib Javed, who had assumed the role on an interim basis following Australian coach Jason Gillespie’s sudden resignation. The announcement makes Mahmood the seventh person since 2021 to hold the position of head coach for Pakistan’s Test team. According to the PCB, Mahmood brings “a seasoned cricketing mind” and “proven success in the English county circuit.”
Pakistani cricket fans do not agree. They have accused Mahmood of repeatedly failing in coaching roles without contributing to player development or success.
“Azhar Mahmood – Interim Bowling Coach – 2016, Full-Time Bowling Coach – 2016–2019, Interim Head Coach (T20) – 2024, Assistant Coach – 2024, Interim Red-Ball Coach – 2025. Not a single bowler was developed or properly managed during all this time,” wrote Pakistani X user Junaiz.
Others were more sarcastic: “Death. Taxes. Azhar Mahmood PCB job,” X user Assad added.
Meanwhile, sports journalist Shoaib Jatt questioned the PCB’s decision. “Wow, PCB’s genius move: Azhar Mahmood, under whom Pakistan lost countless titles and suffered historic defeats as assistant coach, now promoted to head coach of the Test squad! Can’t wait for the next masterclass in failure!”
Also read: Maryam Nawaz brings new law to control publicity campaigns. Pakistanis call it ‘peak fascism’
A cricket board in disarray
Since the resignation of Ehsan Mani in 2021, the PCB has been led by four different chairmen: Ramiz Raja, Najam Sethi, Zaka Ashraf, and current chairman Mohsin Naqvi. This instability at the top has trickled down, creating a leadership vacuum that has affected every level of Pakistan cricket.
“Pakistan Cricket Board me es waqt musical chair se hi ohde mil rahe hain (In PCB right now, posts are being handed out like a game of musical chairs),” X user Yousaf wrote.
Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, in particular, has been criticised for what many perceive as a personal and political style of governance.
“Shame on you Mohsin Naqvi! You are destroying Pakistan cricket’s reputation… The whole world knows Azhar Mahmood is a total scam and the worst coach ever,” Usman Ali wrote on X.
Pakistan cricket is also in the midst of a performance crisis. In Test cricket, Pakistan has managed just 14 wins and 18 losses in 38 matches over the past five years. The team finished last in the previous World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, despite playing series at home. They lost to South Africa and Bangladesh, but they managed a series win against England.
Despite Mahmood’s experience — 21 Tests and 143 ODIs for Pakistan — and a respectable run in county cricket and the IPL (where he played as a British citizen), Mahmood’s coaching stints have been marred by underperformance. His immediate challenge will be to prepare the team for its upcoming World Test Championship series against South Africa later this year. Pakistan has missed out on the WTC final three times in a row.
For many fans, this is looking like yet another failed experiment.
“The reappointment of Azhar Mahmood as coach by Mohsin Naqvi is a slap in the face to all Pakistani cricket fans. PCB is stuck in a time warp,” wrote X user Hala Shah.