[EXCLUSIVE] "If you keep changing coaches and captains, then it becomes difficult": Azhar Mahmood

[Ball Blazer]

In this exclusive PakPassion interview, former Pakistan all-rounder and coach Azhar Mahmood reflects on his recent triumph as bowling coach with ILT20 champions Desert Vipers. He provides a detailed update on Naseem Shah's fitness and role, defends the bowling action of Usman Tariq, and shares his candid thoughts on the constant turnover within the Pakistan coaching setup. Mahmood also discusses the future of Test captain Shan Masood, the importance of county and domestic cricket for Pakistani players, and the state of the nation's pace-bowling resources.

Key revelations include:

•⁠ ⁠Naseem Shah's Comeback: "He is bowling fit now." – He notes that Naseem’s role has evolved; while traditionally a new-ball specialist, he was effectively used in the middle and death overs during the ILT20. Beyond his bowling, Mahmood highlights significant improvements in Naseem’s fielding and overall athleticism.

•⁠ ⁠Desert Vipers' Triumph: "We were the best side in the tournament." – Mahmood reflects on winning the ILT20 title as the bowling coach for the Desert Vipers, noting that the team was the most consistent, winning eight out of ten matches.

•⁠ ⁠Defending a Bowler: "For me, I think it's a proper legal action." – Addressing Ravi Ashwin’s questions regarding Usman Tariq's bowling action, Mahmood asserts that the action is legal and has been cleared previously. He expresses that such public questioning from a senior player like Ashwin was "not ideal," as match referees and umpires are responsible for such calls.

•⁠ ⁠Coaching Instability: "If you keep changing, then it becomes difficult." – On the challenge of frequent coaching changes in Pakistan.

•⁠ ⁠Captain's Future: "He has a bright future." – He backs Shan Masood’s future as Test captain, emphasizing the need to follow a process rather than reacting solely to short-term outcomes.

•⁠ ⁠Pace Bowling Assurance: "I'm not worried about the fast bowling future in Pakistan." – Despite mid-table rankings, Mahmood remains optimistic about Pakistan's pace battery, citing talents like Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Khurram Shahzad.

Watch full interview with Saj here:

 

[Ball Blazer]

Coaching for Pakistan now has been a point of discussion for long. Wonder why the board doesn't do anything to improve the turnover rate

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Even if they lose badly in this home series against Aus and in the WT20 , keep a performance review for players and take actions to send them for improvement..

Hope PCB , doesnt change the coach or the captain for poor performances in WT20 after every WT20 but continues to select players like Babar Shaheen Naseem and Shadab again and again for their past glory...

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

•⁠ ⁠Captain's Future: "He has a bright future." – He backs Shan Masood’s future as Test captain, emphasizing the need to follow a process rather than reacting solely to short-term outcomes.

•⁠ ⁠Pace Bowling Assurance: "I'm not worried about the fast bowling future in Pakistan." – Despite mid-table rankings, Mahmood remains optimistic about Pakistan's pace battery, citing talents like Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Khurram Shahzad.

Forgive me for I haven't gone through the interview yet but how can someone who is an established part of the Pak cricket culture say something like this.

Shan is 37 year old already, it's the age when even bonafide greats lose their reflexes and skills & start looking for a second career. How can he say that we need a "process instead of short-term outcome" & then back Shan when he is literally not a pillar that you can build any kind of long-term process oriented future on?

Pakistan red ball fast bowling has been diabolical for almost two decades. Shaheen & Naseem have already come up short in test cricket & Khurram can't seem to go through a series without fitness issues. Add to that the industrial fan dried pitches at home, there's not even a chance that he or anyone else will have a regular test career at home. We play three away tours a year and then one or two of them will be in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh which aren't known for their pace centered pitches. How can someone as knowledgeable as Azhar say that he's not worried about Pak fast bowling?

When experts come in & say generic stuff, it really makes me question them. I am not & never will be an expert of cricket & my views are not criticism because I do not possess the skill to judge them from a higher plane of knowledge on the subject matter. My insights are more in the category of "user feedback" as these opinions are based on years of watching, reading, thinking about the game, & experiencing the highs and lows as an end user.

We have seen how West Indies & Australia built great sides, we have seen India go from a trundlers paradise & a circus abroad to become one of the most feared cricketing sides in history & yet none of the tools that they built their success on are being utilized by Pak. Then they also want us to believe that "all is well" & "everything is going to be all right in the future".

It's just a bit bizarre for me.

 

[pakistani pride]

Even if they lose badly in this home series against Aus and in the WT20 , keep a performance review for players and take actions to send them for improvement..

Hope PCB , doesnt change the coach or the captain for poor performances in WT20 after every WT20 but continues to select players like Babar Shaheen Naseem and Shadab again and again for their past glory...

Point is there is hardly any past glory. Winning a couple of games is not really glory.