PCB Appoints Sarfaraz Ahmed as Pakistan’s Test Team Head Coach Ahead of Bangladesh Tour

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as the head coach of the national Test team ahead of the upcoming tour of Bangladesh.

Sarfaraz will begin his tenure during the two-match Test series, which is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The first Test is scheduled from May 8 to 12 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, while the second Test will be played from May 16 to 20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

This appointment fills a long-standing vacancy in Pakistan’s red-ball coaching setup following the departure of Azhar Mahmood in October 2025. Azhar had been serving as interim head coach since June and oversaw a home Test series against South Africa that ended in a 1-1 draw.

Sarfaraz Ahmed recently led Pakistan’s Under-19 team to victory in the ACC U19 Asia Cup 2025 and also served as a mentor for the Pakistan Shaheens during their series against England Lions earlier this year.

During his playing career, Sarfaraz achieved remarkable success as captain, leading Pakistan to two major ICC titles — the U19 World Cup in 2006 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.

The PCB has also announced additions to the support staff for the Bangladesh tour. Former cricketer Asad Shafiq has been appointed as batting coach, while Umar Gul will serve as bowling coach.

The team management will be led by manager Naveed Akram Cheema and includes a full support staff covering fielding, fitness, medical, and analytical roles as Pakistan prepares for the crucial Test series.