Pakistan have named Sarfaraz Ahmed as the head coach for the upcoming Test assignment in Bangladesh, with former national cricketers Asad Shafiq and Umar Gul joining the support staff. The move brings a familiar and experienced face into the senior setup, while Shan Masood will continue to lead the side as captain.
The squad also shows a notable blend of continuity and fresh selection decisions. Pakistan have made five changes from their last Test series against South Africa at home, dropping Abdullah Shafique, Asif Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam and Rohail Nazir, while Mohammad Abbas has been recalled after missing two home series.
Sarfaraz’s first senior coaching role
This will be Sarfaraz’s first coaching assignment with a senior Pakistan team. The former Pakistan captain, who led Pakistan to the Champions Trophy title in 2017, has already worked in similar roles with the Under-19 side and Pakistan Shaheens.
He was part of the U19 setup at the recent Asia Cup, where Pakistan went on to win the tournament by beating India in the final. He also served with Pakistan Shaheens during their series against England Lions in the UAE, before that tour was cut short because of the West Asia crisis.
Shafiq and Gul add experience to the dugout
Shafiq will work as batting coach, while Gul has been named bowling coach. Shafiq has not previously held a formal coaching role, although he already serves on both the men’s and women’s selection panels.
Gul, by contrast, brings coaching experience from Pakistan cricket’s white-ball teams. His appointment gives the bowling unit a familiar former international presence, while Shafiq offers support from inside the national system and from his long playing career.
Pakistan’s 16-man squad draws on domestic form
A strong domestic season helped several uncapped players force their way in. Opening batter Abdullah Fazal topped the recent President’s Trophy batting charts with 622 runs in seven matches at 51.83, including two centuries and two half-centuries.
Wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori followed closely with 531 runs at 48.27, matching Fazal’s century count. He has also already made his international debut in Pakistan’s ODI tour of Bangladesh, which adds an extra layer of recent experience to the squad.
Domestic consistency earns more calls
Another new name, Azan Awais, has built an impressive case across the last two first-class seasons. He has scored 2,673 runs at 48.6 and reached ten centuries in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and President’s Trophy combined.
Amad Butt also arrives in strong form after a decisive all-round role for PTV. His four wickets helped PTV defend 40 against SNGPL in January 2026, and he finished that season with 32 wickets at 19.21 plus 206 runs in seven matches.
Abbas returns to Test cricket
Mohammad Abbas is back in the Test dressing room after missing the West Indies and South Africa home series. He has been playing for Derbyshire in the County Championship and last represented Pakistan in the Cape Town Test during the South Africa tour.
He joins a pace attack that also includes Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali and Khurram Shahzad. Pakistan’s spin options remain familiar as well, with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan expected to carry the main responsibility in the middle overs.
Familiar core remains in place
The selection panel has kept much of the batting core intact. Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Saud Shakeel and Imam-ul-Haq remain part of the group, giving the side a seasoned middle order and top-order experience.
Abdullah Shafique, who returned to Test cricket in the South Africa home series, did not do enough to retain his place after scores of 41, 2, 6 and 57. Asif Afridi, who played only the Rawalpindi Test in that series, had impressed with 6 for 79 in the first innings on debut, but the selectors have now gone in a different direction.
Pakistan squad for the Test series in Bangladesh
Shan Masood (capt), 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
The first Test will be played in Dhaka from May 8, with the second in Sylhet from May 16. The two-match series is Pakistan’s second assignment in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle, and it will also serve as the first major senior coaching challenge for Sarfaraz Ahmed in his new role.
