LAHORE (AM Khan): Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has voiced support for Younis Khan as a strong contender for the head coach position of the national Test team, emphasizing the need for a fresh mindset in red-ball cricket.
Speaking at an event in Karachi, Akram reflected on the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 and shared his insights on the future of Pakistan cricket, particularly in terms of coaching appointments.
“Younis Khan can be a valuable asset as a red-ball batting coach. His experience and mindset could play a crucial role in shaping young players,” Akram stated. “A new coach can bring in fresh ideas and help change the team’s mentality.”
Akram, 58, also praised emerging talent from PSL 10, singling out Hasan Nawaz for his impressive performances. “Hasan Nawaz stood out in the tournament. Salman Mirza and Ali Raza also bowled well and showed promise,” he said.
Highlighting the developmental aspect of modern cricket, the legendary pacer stressed the importance of giving players time to adapt, especially in T20 formats. “Young players should be afforded time to adjust and find their footing in T20 cricket,” he remarked.
On the sensitive topic of Pakistan-India cricket relations, Akram remained non-committal. “It’s difficult to predict any change in the dynamics of India-Pakistan cricket,” he said.
It is worth noting that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had appointed former pacer Aqib Javed as the interim red-ball head coach following the departure of Australian Jason Gillespie. Aqib served across all formats during Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in April before being named Director of High Performance.
Meanwhile, former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has taken over as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach. His first assignment begins with the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled from May 28 to June 1.
The Bangladesh team, captained by Litton Das, has arrived in Pakistan and is set to begin training ahead of the series. Pakistan, under Hesson’s guidance, will continue its white-ball campaign before turning its attention to the red-ball format in the new ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.
Following the 2025 Asia Cup in September, Pakistan will host South Africa in October for a two-match Test series, along with three ODIs and three T20Is—marking their first home red-ball assignment of the new WTC cycle.
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