In a continued cycle of inconsistency and underperformance, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has once again advertised for the role of head coach for the national team—its seventh attempt in just two years.
Alongside the head coach vacancy, the PCB has also posted a job opening for the Director of High Performance Centres, signaling yet another strategic reshuffle in an organization plagued by frequent changes and lackluster results.
A String of Coaches, Same Poor Results
Aaqib Javed, the most recent interim head coach, stepped down following Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year. He had held dual responsibilities as coach and selector for six months, but the team’s continued failures spelled the end of his tenure.
The past two years have seen Pakistan crash out of major international tournaments, including the 2023 Asia Cup, 2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy, all without significant improvement in performance.
Leadership Chaos Under Multiple Chairmen
The PCB has operated under three different chairmen since 2023—Najam Sethi, Zaka Ashraf, and the current chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Each administration brought in its own staff, creating a carousel of coaches, selectors, and captains. This lack of continuity has severely hampered team morale and on-field results.
During this period, coaches like Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Mahmood, Jason Gillespie, Gary Kirsten, and Aaqib Javed have all taken the reins—none of whom managed to inspire a significant turnaround. Now, the PCB is in search of a seventh coach, but skepticism remains over whether a qualified foreign coach will accept the position, given the PCB’s turbulent track record with past hires like Geoff Lawson and Mickey Arthur.
Frequent Captaincy Shake-Ups Fuel Uncertainty
Captaincy changes have been just as frequent. Under Sethi, Babar Azam was retained as captain, but after a poor World Cup showing, Zaka Ashraf appointed Shaheen Afridi for white-ball formats and Shan Masood for Tests. Mohsin Naqvi later reversed these moves, reinstating Babar, only for him to step down following another failed T20 campaign. Mohammad Rizwan and now Salman Ali Agha have also been given short stints as white-ball captains, while Shan Masood retains Test leadership despite inconsistent performances.
Selector Shuffle and Expanding Roles Raise Eyebrows
The instability extends beyond the playing field. The selection committee has seen constant revamps. Rather than being held accountable, many selectors have been reassigned to new roles. Notably, Wahab Riaz, once chief selector, later became senior team manager and now serves as Director of Mentors, overseeing legends like Waqar Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Shoaib Malik.
Similarly, Mohammad Yousuf has juggled multiple roles—selector, U-19 head coach, and national batting coach—without notable success. He resigned as selector in September 2024 but continues with youth development responsibilities.
Other figures like Azhar Ali, Aaqib Javed, and Aleem Dar have been rotated through various positions with little long-term impact. Aaqib, after serving as both selector and interim coach, is now reportedly eyeing the Director of High Performance role vacated by Nadeem Khan in March.