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PCB Sticks With Shan Masood as Test Captain, Eyes Sarfaraz Ahmed as Coach

The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to continue with Shan Masood as the Test captain ahead of the new World Test Championship cycle. Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is expected to be appointed as the new red-ball head coach, replacing Azhar Mahmood. This move aims to foster stability and better alignment within the team management. Pakistan will begin their WTC campaign with a two-match away series against Bangladesh starting May 8.

Key Points: Shan Masood Retains Pakistan Test Captaincy, Sarfaraz Ahmed as Coach

  • Masood retained as Test captain
  • Sarfaraz Ahmed likely new red-ball coach
  • Pakistan finished bottom of last WTC cycle
  • Mike Hesson appointment rejected
  • Bangladesh Test series starts May 8
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PCB retains Masood as Test captain, Sarfaraz likely to take charge as coach: Report

PCB retains Shan Masood as Test captain despite poor results; former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed likely to be appointed head coach for red-ball cricket.

"The PCB is keen on maintaining stability in the longer format - Report"

Islamabad, April 15

The Pakistan Cricket Board is set to continue with Shan Masood as captain of the Test side despite poor results, while former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed is expected to be appointed as head coach for the red-ball format.

The development comes as Pakistan prepares to begin a fresh cycle of the ICC World Test Championship with a two-match away series against Bangladesh, scheduled to start from May 8.

According to a report in Telecom Asia Sport, the PCB is keen on maintaining stability in the longer format despite criticism surrounding Masood's leadership and batting form, especially after Pakistan finished at the bottom of the previous WTC cycle.

Masood's tenure saw a difficult stretch overseas, including a 3-0 whitewash in Australia and a 2-0 defeat in South Africa. A 2-1 home series win against England was one of the few positives, while a 1-1 draw against West Indies further reflected the team's inconsistency.

In a significant move, Sarfaraz is likely to replace Azhar Mahmood as the red-ball head coach. The decision is understood to be aimed at ensuring better alignment between the captain and team management, given the strong rapport between Masood and Sarfaraz.

The report also noted that a proposal to appoint Mike Hesson as an all-format head coach did not receive approval, facing resistance from both the PCB's Board of Governors and the selection committee.

Pakistan are scheduled to play three Test series in the current WTC cycle, against Bangladesh, West Indies and England.

The squad for the Bangladesh tour is expected to be announced soon, with young opener Azan Awais in strong contention following impressive performances in domestic cricket.

Meanwhile, a red-ball training camp is underway at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore under the supervision of Sarfaraz and academy coaches as Pakistan look to rebuild in the Test format.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The Sarfaraz-Masood combo could work if they have good chemistry. In cricket, sometimes the captain-coach relationship matters more than individual records. But they have a tough road ahead with away series.
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Ananya R
PCB's decision-making always feels so reactive. They sack people quickly, then stick with others for too long. No clear vision. At least BCCI, for all its flaws, has some long-term planning for the Test team. Hope they give chances to young players like Azan.
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Vikram M
Respectfully, I think this is a mistake. Masood's batting has been poor, and his captaincy hasn't inspired confidence. How can you lead from the front if you're not scoring runs? They need fresh energy. Maybe look at how Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma work together for India – that's a proper partnership.
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Karthik V
Bangladesh at home is not easy anymore. If Pakistan doesn't win this series, the pressure will be immense. Their Test cricket has really fallen behind India's and even England's in recent years. Need to focus on building a solid bowling attack for all conditions.
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Michael C
The rejection of Mike Hesson is telling. Seems like internal politics are still a major factor in PCB appointments. Not having a single head coach for all formats might create more confusion than alignment in the long run.

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