PAK vs NZ: Azhar Mahmood appointed as the Head Coach of Pakistan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday 8th April, announced the appointment of former Seamer Azhar Mahmood as the head coach of the Pakistan's National Cricket Team for the five match T20 International series against New Zealand. Along with Azhar, the other members of the support staff have been unveiled as well. 

Azhar Mahmood is an experienced coach with both domestic and international coaching experience under his belt and he will be taking over the reins of the Pakistan national team for the New Zealand T20i series starting from 18th April. He previously served Pakistan Cricket as the bowling coach between 2016 to 2019. Currently, the 49 year old is the bowling coach of PSL 2024 winners, Islamabad United. 

?Azhar Mahmood has played 164 international games for Pakistan and has picked 162 wickets and has scored 2,421 runs with the bat, ? The Pakistan Cricket Board said in their official statement. 

Former fast bowler Wahab Riaz has been declared as the manager of the senior Pakistan team and Mohammad Yousuf will be playing the role of the batting coach. Saeed Ajmal will carry on with his spin bowling coach duties. 

Since the appointment of the new selection committee of PCB, Pakistan has been on the lookout of a brand new coaching staff. According to some rumors, Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten were set to be appointed as the coaches of Pakistan, but no official has been made regarding this.

Pakistan?s squad for the five match T20 International series against New Zealand is set to be announced today and Babar will be once again seen leading the Shaheens in the shortest format of the game. Post the conclusion of the New Zealand series, the Men in Green will also play two T20i series against Ireland and England ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Shaheens lost their previous series against New Zealand by a margin of 4-1 under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi and the hosts would be looking to take revenge against the Kiwis. 

Pakistan's full support staff for the T20I series against New Zealand:

Azhar Mahmood (Head Coach), Wahab Riaz (Senior Team's Manager), Saeed Ajmal (Spin Bowling Coach), Mohammad Yousuf (Batting Coach), Mansoor Rana (Manager of the team), Cliffe Deacon (Physio), Aftab Khan (Fielding Coach) and Drikus Saiman (Conditioning and Strength Coach).

Read: Pakistan Full Schedule of T20 World Cup 2024