Former Cricketer Set to Become Pakistan Test Team Coach

Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is set to take charge as the new head coach of the Pakistan Test team. The position has remained vacant for the past five months, and according to Geo News, a formal announcement regarding his appointment is expected soon. If everything proceeds as planned, his new chapter will begin with the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in May.

Azhar Mahmood had served as the interim head coach during the recent Test series against South Africa. However, for a long-term solution, the board’s confidence now appears to be leaning towards Sarfaraz. He is currently working with the Pakistan Shaheens and is with the team in the United Arab Emirates for a series against the England Lions.

Sarfaraz strengthened his case with his recent success as mentor of the Under-19 Asia Cup-winning side. His work with young cricketers caught the attention of the board. During the tournament, a section of fans also approached Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, urging him to appoint Sarfaraz as the national team’s head coach. Altogether, support for him has become evident both inside and outside the board.

During his playing career, Sarfaraz was known as a determined and fighting cricketer. In 54 Tests, he scored 3,031 runs, including four centuries and 21 half-centuries. He led the side in 13 Tests, securing four victories. Among them, the memorable win against England at Lord’s in 2018 remains special for fans. He last appeared in Test whites against Australia in Perth in 2023.

In white-ball cricket, he also had a strong presence. He scored 2,315 runs in 117 ODIs and 818 runs in 61 T20 Internationals. As a captain, he enjoyed greater success in limited-overs formats. Most notably, he led Pakistan to the 2017 Champions Trophy title, which stands as the biggest achievement of his leadership career. In T20 Internationals, he had an impressive win percentage of 78.37.

Pakistan are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings following their home draw against South Africa. With a new challenge awaiting against Bangladesh, Sarfaraz’s coaching journey could begin with that series — marking another significant turning point in his cricketing career, this time leading from inside the dressing room.