Azhar Mahmood, the former Pakistan all-rounder, has officially concluded his role as coach of Pakistan’s Test cricket team with immediate effect. The news of his departure was reported on December 16, 2025, and confirmed through cricket sources including ESPNcricinfo.
Mahmood had taken up the acting head coach position for the Test side in June 2025, after serving in various coaching capacities within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). His initial contract was slated to continue until March 2026, but both he and the board mutually agreed to bring the tenure to a close earlier than planned.
One of the key reasons behind this decision was the absence of any scheduled Test fixtures for Pakistan until their upcoming March–April 2026 tour of Bangladesh, meaning there was little activity for Mahmood in the immediate future.
Coaching Journey and Contributions
Before stepping into the Test coaching role, Azhar Mahmood had been a long-standing member of Pakistan’s broader coaching framework. He was appointed as an all-formats assistant coach in April 2024, where he worked across formats—supporting roles in both red-ball and white-ball squads. In this capacity, he assisted established coaches like Gary Kirsten with the white-ball teams and Jason Gillespie with the red-ball side, and even led a white-ball series in an interim role during that period.
This breadth of experience with different formats reflected his adaptability and understanding of the modern game. Despite being appointed acting Test head coach later, his stint overseeing the red-ball team was limited in terms of match activity by the Pakistan calendar, which influenced the board’s decision to bring the contract to an early close.
Mahmood’s Reflections and Immediate Future
Upon the parting of ways, Mahmood described his tenure with professionalism and commitment, noting that he fulfilled his duties as expected under the terms of his contract. In his statement, he extended his best wishes to the Pakistan Test squad and expressed hope for their future success in the longer format of the game.
Prior to this role, he had developed a varied coaching résumé that included franchise and domestic assignments, and his experience as a player and coach internationally had been assets throughout his time with the national side. With his contract formally concluded, Mahmood is expected to focus on other coaching opportunities and engagements beyond Pakistan’s Test setup.
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