Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to appoint Azhar Mahmood as the interim head coach of the national Test side, calling the move “illogical and reflective of poor management.”
Akmal said he could not understand the reasoning behind the decision and compared it to Micky Arthur’s controversial tenure. Speaking on the YouTube show The Game Plan podcast, Akmal said, “I just don’t understand the logic behind this decision. It’s exactly like the time PCB made Mickey Arthur director of cricket while allowing him to continue working with a county team. I couldn’t understand it then, and I can’t understand it now.”
Mahmood has become Pakistan’s seventh Test head coach since 2021. He succeeds Aaqib Javed, who took over from Jason Gillespie. Akmal believes the team’s poor performances stem from inconsistent decisions and frequent coaching changes, which have only created more problems.
“That role (Arthur’s) has continued, and it has brought many issues into Pakistan cricket. The same thing is now happening with the interim coaching setup. Before this, it was Aaqib Javed, then Mohammad Hafeez and now Azhar. These decisions reflect a lack of seriousness. When the PCB starts thinking seriously and acting professionally, it won’t have to make such compromises or temporary appointments,” he added.
In 2023, Mickey Arthur returned to the Pakistan setup as team director—a position designed to allow him to continue coaching Derbyshire in England while being involved with Pakistan. Similarly, Azhar Mahmood is unlikely to retain his position as white-ball assistant coach while heading the Test team. Notably, he was not part of the coaching group during Pakistan’s recent limited-overs series against Bangladesh.
“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?” said Akmal.
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