PCB shortlists candidates for head coach role

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shortlisted several candidates for the position of head coach of the national men's cricket team, with assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and former New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson emerging as top contenders, sources told on Thursday.

To speed up the appointment process, the PCB has formed a four-member committee that includes Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed, Bilal Afzal, selector Azhar Ali, and former interim head coach Aaqib Javed. This committee will evaluate candidates and send its recommendations to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

According to sources, six candidates have been shortlisted so far, four of them are foreign coaches, including Mike Hesson, while Azhar Mahmood is one of the two local candidates in the running.

Pakistan's coaching setup has seen significant changes over the past year. In April, Jason Gillespie was appointed as the red-ball head coach on a two-year contract. However, he resigned in December before the Test series against South Africa, following a stretch of poor results and reported internal disagreements.

Gillespie's exit came just months after white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten stepped down in October, only six months into the role. Reports suggested Kirsten had issues adjusting to PCB's working style and faced difficulties managing team dynamics.

In the wake of both resignations, former pacer Aaqib Javed was appointed interim head coach. His term was later extended for Pakistan's white-ball tour of New Zealand. However, the PCB has now decided not to offer him another extension.

Despite this, Aaqib Javed is now expected to take up a new role as Director of the High-Performance Centre. An official announcement is anticipated soon. He is also likely to continue as a national selector alongside his new duties.