Change has become the defining feature of Pakistan cricket’s recent red-ball setup. On Saturday, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed yet another shift in its coaching ranks, appointing Sarfaraz Ahmed—an ICC Champions Trophy winner in 2017—as head coach for the Shan Masood-led Test team. The move comes ahead of a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, scheduled for next month.
Sarfaraz’s appointment follows a period of transition after the resignation of Jason Gillespie from the role of red-ball coach. Aaqib Javed subsequently took charge within the Test framework, and later Azhar Mahmood was also part of the setup. With this latest decision, the PCB has now moved to bring broader changes into the structure.
For Sarfaraz, this will mark another chapter in a career that has already delivered major trophies. He won two ICC titles as Pakistan captain—the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2006 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. In recent months, he was involved with youth cricket too, guiding Pakistan Under-19 to the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup title as a mentor cum manager about five months ago. He has also served in a similar capacity for Pakistan Shaheens against England Lions.
The PCB has also expanded the coaching group by adding Asad Shafiq and Umar Gul. Shafiq will take up batting-coaching responsibilities, while Gul will oversee bowling coaching. Shafiq has played 147 international matches and accumulated 6,188 runs. Gul, meanwhile, featured in 237 international games and claimed 427 wickets.
Shan Masood has been retained as the captain for the Test side. The squad includes Pakistan’s core international performers such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Four players who have not yet earned international caps—Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori—are also part of the touring group.
Within the squad, five names—Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan—are currently participating in the ongoing NCA Red-Ball Camp in Lahore.
When will the Tests take place?
The two matches are part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 cycle. The opening Test is set for the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from May 8 to May 12. The second Test will follow at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, scheduled from May 16 to May 20.
Pakistan players selected for the series will begin preparations with a camp in Karachi, with the group set to assemble on April 27. The camp is scheduled to end on May 1, and the players are expected to travel to Bangladesh the following day. Those involved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will join the Karachi camp after their respective franchises complete their campaigns. If a team reaches the PSL final, its players will head to Bangladesh only after the tournament concludes.
Pakistan squad for the Test series
- Shan Masood (captain)
- Abdullah Fazal
- Amad Butt
- Azan Awais
- Babar Azam
- Hasan Ali
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Khurram Shahzad
- Mohammad Abbas
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk)
- Noman Ali
- Sajid Khan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Saud Shakeel
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
