The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to make sweeping changes to the Pakistan cricket team’s Test and coaching setup, according to Geo Super. After Pakistan lost 0-2 to Bangladesh away from home, the PCB is looking to sack Shan Masood as Pakistan’s Test captain and Sarfaraz Ahmed as the Test coach.
Pakistan’s next Test captain
Masood took over as skipper in December 2023, and Pakistan has struggled under him. During his tenure, Pakistan are 4-12 in Test cricket. He’s won just one series, 2-1 against England, and has been whitewashed at home by Australia, Bangladesh and South Africa. This humiliation away from home seems to be the final pin in the coffin.
It’s reported that Masood has requested to extend his run for the next 2 Test series, the West Indies and England, both away from home. It’s yet to be seen whether PCB will accept this proposition. If Masood is sacked, Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan’s T20I captain, will take over as skipper.
New head coach & director of cricket
Sarfaraz was appointed Pakistan’s Test coach in April, and his first assignment was the Bangladesh away series. Unfortunately, that might be all for him. Sarfaraz is expected to continue as the director of the Pakistan Shaheens and the Under-19 team. Former Pakistan captain and their highest run-scorer in Test cricket, Younis Khan, is expected to replace Sarfaraz.
Mohammed Hafeez, who has served as team director and interim coach before, will take over as the director of international cricket. Both Younis and Hafeez will also join the selection committee alongside Sarfaraz, Aaqib Javed, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Asad Shafiq.
Asad will continue serving as the Test batting coach, Umar Gul as the bowling coach, and Shane McDermott as the fielding coach. Pakistan will travel to Trinidad for a 2-match Test series against the West Indies in mid-July and depart for England for a 3-match Test series in August.
