The PCB decision to retain Pakistan’s white-ball leadership has been confirmed despite the team’s early exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the Super Eights stage. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted against a major overhaul of the national team setup following the tournament.
Sources indicate the board has decided to maintain stability by keeping the current captains and coaching staff across formats, rather than reacting with sweeping changes after the disappointing campaign.
PCB opts for continuity
In a notable shift from previous approaches, the PCB is prioritising continuity and backing its current leadership structure.
White-ball head coach Mike Hesson will continue in his role under his existing contract. He will keep working alongside T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and ODI captain Shaheen Afridi, both of whom remain in charge of their respective teams.
The board has also instructed Hesson and Afridi to focus preparations toward the 2027 ICC World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Changes in the Test coaching setup
While the white-ball structure remains unchanged, the Test team will see a coaching adjustment following the resignation of former head coach and Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood.
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been appointed as the new Test head coach and will take up the role once he returns from Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Aaqib Javed, director of the High-Performance Centre, will continue working alongside the selection committee in their existing roles.
However, the board has accepted the resignation of Aleem Dar from the selection panel, and a replacement selector will soon be added.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign
Pakistan’s campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 started positively with a three-wicket victory over the Netherlands in their opening league-stage match.
However, they then suffered a 61-run defeat against India in their second match.
Pakistan responded strongly in the final group-stage fixture with a dominant 102-run win over Namibia, securing progression to the Super Eights.
In the next stage of the tournament, Pakistan’s first match against New Zealand was washed out. They then lost to England, which dented their qualification hopes.
Pakistan finished their campaign with a five-run win over Sri Lanka, but the victory was not enough to take them beyond the Super Eights.
Upcoming tour of Bangladesh
Following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup campaign, Pakistan will now turn their attention to an away ODI series against Bangladesh.
Pakistan are scheduled to play three ODIs in Dhaka from March 11 to March 15 as they begin preparations for upcoming international assignments.
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source: https://www.pcb.com.pk/
