The Pakistan Cricket Board has offered the Pakistan Test head coach position to former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, sources said, though the 38-year-old has not yet given his final confirmation.
If Sarfaraz accepts, he would become the youngest-ever head coach of Pakistan’s Test side. The appointment would come as Pakistan prepares for a busy ICC World Test Championship calendar, including two Tests in Bangladesh in May followed by tours to the West Indies and England.
Pakistan last contested a home Test series against South Africa late last year, which finished 1-1 under interim coach Azhar Mahmood. With Azhar’s contract concluded by mutual consent, PCB officials have reportedly moved to name Sarfaraz as the permanent successor.
Sarfaraz has already been working in coaching and management roles within the PCB. Last year he was appointed manager and mentor of the Pakistan Shaheens and the under-19 teams. He accompanied Pakistan’s youth sides to the ICC World Youth Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia and managed squads at the Asia Cup Rising Stars event and the junior Asia Cup.
A former wicketkeeper-batsman, Sarfaraz played 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20 internationals for Pakistan. He captained the national side to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy title and has been credited with guiding youth teams to success at under-19 level.
Sarfaraz’s international career effectively ended in 2019 after he was removed as captain and dropped from the national team when Misbah-ul-Haq was appointed head coach and chief selector for all formats. The PCB’s offer represents a possible return to a central role in Pakistan’s Test setup as the board seeks stability and improved results in the World Test Championship.
