Kamran Akmal on Azhar Mahmood: “I just don’t understand the logic behind this decision”
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Former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal said he doesn’t understand the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) logic after they named Azhar Mahmood interim red-ball head coach.
He noted that if the PCB had faith in Mahmood’s skills, they should have appointed him on a permanent basis.
Akmal highlighted that appointing coaches on a temporary basis has become a trend for the PCB as they did it with Aaqib Javed and Mohammad Hafeez.
He also took a shot at the board for giving the team director role to Mickey Arthur in 2023, pointing out that it was on a part-time basis and still allowed him to work as head coach of Derbyshire.
“I just don’t understand the logic behind this decision. It’s exactly like when the PCB appointed Mickey Arthur while allowing him to continue working with a county team. I couldn’t understand it then, and I still can’t understand it now,” Akmal was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“That role (Arthur’s) has continued and caused several issues in our cricket system. Now the same thing is happening with the interim coaching setup. Earlier it was Aaqib Javed, then Mohammad Hafeez, and now Azhar Mahmood. It just keeps changing.
“These decisions show a lack of seriousness. If the PCB starts thinking professionally, it won’t need to make temporary or compromised choices. Everyone’s being appeased, and now Azhar has also been rewarded. If you’ve made him head coach, then give him full time and responsibility. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
The Pakistan team recently took on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series in Lahore, which they won 3-0.
The men in green then travelled to Bangladesh to play three T20Is, but couldn’t replicate their success as they were beaten 2-1.
Following this, Pakistan embarked on a white-ball trip of the West Indies and began by winning the T20I series 2-1. However, their tour ended on a sour note as they lost the ODI series 2-1.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in Sharjah, which will be held from August 29 to September 7.
Afterwards, the men in green will take part in the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be played in the UAE from September 9 to 28.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
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