The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed a revised management and coaching staff for the upcoming T20 International series against Bangladesh, notably excluding former assistant coach Azhar Mahmood from the coaching lineup.
According to the cricket board, New Zealand’s Mike Hesson will assume the role of head coach. Among other key appointments, Australia’s Ashley Noffke has been named the bowling coach, while Hanif Malik will serve as the batting coach. Naveed Akram Cheema has been appointed as the team manager.
The new support staff also includes Mohammad Masroor as the fielding coach, Cliff Deacon as the physiotherapist, and Imranullah as the strength and conditioning coach. The team management structure will additionally comprise a team analyst, team doctor, security manager, masseur, and media manager.
This series marks the commencement of Hesson’s tenure as the white-ball head coach for Pakistan men’s cricket, a role he was appointed to by the PCB on May 13, succeeding Aqib Javed.
Mahmood, who previously held the position of bowling coach, had expressed his desire to take on the head coach role, stating his intention to apply for the position.
“I’m definitely going to apply for the Pakistan team head coach role,” Mahmood stated in an interview earlier this month. However, the board ultimately did not consider him for the pivotal role.
These personnel changes come as Pakistan prepares to face Bangladesh in the T20I series, signaling a significant restructuring within the team’s backroom leadership.
All three T20Is will be hosted at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, commencing on May 28 and concluding on June 1.
The first T20I is scheduled for Wednesday, the second for Friday, and the final match on Sunday. All games will begin at 8:00 PM local time.
Initially, Bangladesh was slated to arrive in Pakistan on May 21 in two groups, with a five-match T20I series planned to start on May 25 in Faisalabad. However, logistical adjustments and security considerations led to a revised three-match series, all of which will now be held in Lahore, following a schedule revision in the wake of a recent standoff between Pakistan and India.
The first contingent of the Bangladesh cricket team has already arrived in Lahore for the three-match T20 International series against Pakistan.
This initial 10-member squad includes players such as Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Tanvir Islam, and Parvez Hossain Emon. Tanzim Hasan Sakib and members of the support staff are also part of this first group to reach the city.
Bangladesh players are expected to arrive in three separate groups for the upcoming series. Both teams will conduct training sessions at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on May 26 and 27, in preparation for the opening fixture. The captains of both sides are also scheduled to hold a pre-match press conference on May 27.
The PCB has announced a 16-member squad for the T20I series, with Salman Ali Agha named captain and Shadab Khan as vice-captain. The selection is based on performances in the ongoing PSL X.
The squad includes Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, and Naseem Shah. Notably absent from the squad are former captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Abbas Afridi, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Umair bin Yousuf, Sufyan Muqeem, and Usman Khan were also not selected.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh will be led by Litton Das, who was appointed T20I captain earlier this year after Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down. Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan will serve as the vice-captain for both the UAE and Pakistan tours.
