Pakistan cricket has developed a well-recognized sample over the previous 5 years: a disappointing sequence or event is adopted by a administration reshuffle, and one other teaching regime begins earlier than the earlier one has had sufficient time to ascertain itself. The most recent upheaval got here in August 2026, when the Pakistan Cricket Board eliminated Take a look at head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed after the group misplaced the primary two Exams of the sequence towards England. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson was handed cost of the Take a look at facet as Pakistan made sweeping adjustments forward of the third Take a look at. Seven gamers had been additionally despatched residence.The episode has as soon as once more put the highlight on Pakistan’s long-running downside with teaching stability. Since Misbah-ul-Haq stepped down in September 2021, the nationwide group has gone by means of a succession of everlasting, interim and split-format teaching preparations.Reasonably than a simple line of succession, Pakistan’s teaching historical past on this interval resembles a revolving door.
From Misbah to Saqlain: The primary reset
Misbah-ul-Haq was appointed head coach and chief selector in 2019, starting a interval wherein Pakistan operated beneath an all-format teaching construction. He and bowling coach Waqar Younis stepped down in September 2021, regardless of having a 12 months remaining on their contracts.The PCB instantly turned to Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq as interim coaches for the upcoming New Zealand sequence.Saqlain subsequently turned the everlasting head coach, overseeing Pakistan throughout codecs till the top of 2022-23. His tenure was adopted by one other transition in 2023, when the PCB experimented with a brand new construction involving Grant Bradburn as head coach and Mickey Arthur as group director.Bradburn was formally appointed head coach in Might 2023 on a two-year contract after working with the group through the New Zealand sequence. By the 2023 World Cup, the construction featured Arthur as director, Bradburn as head coach and a wider help workers.
2023-24: One other main reshuffle
Following the 2023 World Cup, Pakistan moved away from the Arthur-Bradburn setup and introduced Mohammad Hafeez right into a team-director function for the Take a look at tour of Australia and the next interval. The PCB’s appointment of Hafeez was a part of one other broader restructuring, with Pakistan repeatedly altering not solely coaches but additionally the titles and obligations hooked up to senior administration positions.Then got here maybe essentially the most bold teaching experiment of the interval.In April 2024, Pakistan appointed Jason Gillespie as red-ball head coach and Gary Kirsten as white-ball head coach, each on two-year contracts. Azhar Mahmood was named assistant coach throughout all codecs.The break up was designed to offer specialist management for the 2 variations of the sport. Kirsten, who had beforehand coached India to the 2011 ODI World Cup, was anticipated to supervise Pakistan’s white-ball programme, whereas Gillespie was tasked with rebuilding the Take a look at facet.The association, nevertheless, lasted solely months. Kirsten resigned in October 2024, and the PCB handed Gillespie accountability for the white-ball tour of Australia on an interim foundation.In November, Aqib Javed was appointed interim white-ball head coach till the 2025 Champions Trophy. Gillespie’s personal tenure then got here to an finish in December 2024, after which Aqib was additionally given interim accountability for the red-ball facet.In impact, Pakistan had gone from a two-coach specialist mannequin to a different interim association throughout the identical calendar 12 months.
2025: Hesson arrives, Azhar takes red-ball duties
Aqib’s interim white-ball tenure continued into 2025 earlier than the PCB appointed Mike Hesson because the everlasting white-ball head coach in Might. Hesson took over from Aqib and commenced his tenure on Might 26, 2025. The PCB highlighted his earlier worldwide expertise with New Zealand and Kenya, in addition to his work in franchise cricket.In June 2025, Azhar Mahmood was appointed performing red-ball head coach, taking on a job that had turn into vacant following the sooner teaching adjustments.Azhar subsequently continued to supervise the Take a look at facet by means of 2025, together with the house sequence towards South Africa. The PCB recognized him as red-ball head coach for that sequence. The break up between Hesson’s white-ball function and Azhar’s red-ball obligations appeared to supply Pakistan an opportunity to lastly set up some continuity.However as soon as once more, the Take a look at setup was modified.
2026: Sarfaraz will get the Take a look at job – then loses it mid-series
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was appointed red-ball head coach forward of the 2026 Bangladesh Take a look at sequence. The appointment was notable as a result of Sarfaraz moved straight from a enjoying profession into a training function throughout the nationwide setup. He had beforehand labored with the Pakistan Shaheens and U19 pathway, giving him familiarity with a number of gamers coming by means of the system.Nonetheless, his tenure lasted just a few months.Pakistan’s disastrous begin to the 2026 England Take a look at sequence introduced one other dramatic intervention. After defeats in Leeds and at Lord’s, the PCB eliminated Sarfaraz and bowling coach Umar Gul, whereas additionally sending seven gamers residence. Hesson, who had initially been appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, was introduced in to take cost of the Take a look at facet as effectively.
