The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) find themselves in a tricky situation with the contract of interim red-ball coach Azhar Mahmood. Despite their willingness to release him, the board is being held back due to the contract signed by Mahmood with the previous board supervisors.
As per reports from a close source from the board, if the former all-rounder is released before his contract expires, the PCB will have to compensate him with six months' salary, which is approximately PKR 450 million (USD 160,000, INR Rs 1.38 crore).
Azhar Mahmood was recently named the interim head coach of the Pakistan red-ball side. His contract for this role expires in May-June 2026. He further said that the board is paying him an annual salary of approximately PKR 7.5 million per month.
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PCB's Struggle With Retaining Coaches Continue With Azhar Mahmood Episode
The insider further said that Pakistan’s newly appointed white-ball coach was unhappy with Mahmood’s coaching style, which is why the PCB is now keen on removing the former all-rounder. Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie have recently withdrawn their contract with the PCB, given how the board has functioned in recent times.
"The problem arose when Mike Hesson, the recently-appointed white-ball head coach made it clear he would have his own support staff and Azhar was not among his selections." "This left the PCB with a major problem of how to utilise Azhar's expertise to justify paying him such a handsome salary, as even if they wanted they couldn't release him without the six months of compensation," the insider said.
"(Former pacer) Aaqib Javed, who is now a selector and head of the national cricket academy and close to the board chairman, is not impressed with his (Azhar's) coaching style. But to justify his contract for the time being, they have named him as interim head coach of the Test side" he further added.
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Azhar Mahmood Unhappy With PCB
Mahmood, the former Pakistan all-rounder, has had previous coaching stints with the national side in various capacities, including assistant and bowling coach, for a number of years and was given his current contract by the previous management of the board. However, he too is unhappy with how the management is functioning. His multiple requests to work with the junior cricket team has also been neglected by the PCB.
The insider said that the PCB has faced payment issues in the past as well with the likes of Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Misbah ul Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed who were working as mentors during the Champions Cup, which was cancelled by the board after just one year.
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