Who Is The New Test Coach Of Pakistan For Upcoming Bangladesh Tour?

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Former Pakistani cricket player and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is set to take charge of the national side as the head coach in the red ball cricket. The 38-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is expected to fill the vacancy that has been left since October 2025. Ahmed will take over from interim coach Azhar Mahmood, who oversaw the recent series against South Africa.

Where Is Sarfaraz Ahmed Right Now?

Sarfaraz Ahmed is currently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he is with the Pakistan Shaheens for a white-ball series against the England Lions. However, the tour has been called off by the England and Wales Cricket Board due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

According to a report by Geo TV, the appointment of Sarfaraz is expected to proceed as planned ahead of the upcoming away test series against Bangladesh in May.

Sarfaraz Ahmed's New Role

The decision comes after Sarfaraz impressed the selectors in his recent role as mentor of the Under-19 team, guiding them to the Asia Cup title in December 2025 with a commanding win over India in the final. His performance during the tournament reportedly left a strong impact on PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, especially as supporters at the venue openly urged the board to elevate him to the senior team's coaching setup.

The upcoming tour of Bangladesh will serve as his first major challenge in the new role. The men in green are scheduled to play two test matches against Bangladesh on 8 May and 16 May. The matches are an important part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.

Sarfaraz, who last played a Test for Pakistan against Australia in late 2023, brings significant international experience, having featured in 54 Tests. He also captained Pakistan to its memorable 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, the country's most recent ICC title, and will now aim to inspire a side currently placed fifth in the World Test Championship standings.

While his success as a captain, particularly the victory over India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, remains a highlight of his career, stepping into the role of Test head coach presents a far more demanding challenge, arguably the biggest of his cricketing journey so far.