Wasim Akram Backs Younis Khan for Red-Ball Coach

May 27, 2025 - 02:00

Former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram has backed former captain Younis Khan as a strong candidate for head coach of Pakistan’s red-ball Test cricket squad. Speaking at a ceremony in Karachi, Wasim expressed his opinions on the just-finished Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 and provided his ideas on the future national team coaching arrangement.

“For red-ball cricket, Younis Khan could be a decent choice for a batting coach. Akram stated the new coach can assist the younger players in adopting different attitudes.

“The new coach will approach the Pakistan team from a different angle,” he said.

The former left-arm pacer also highlighted developing talent by praising numerous outstanding PSL performances. In the PSL, Hasan Nawaz was outstanding. With the ball, Salman Mirza and Ali Raza also did really well, he noted. Emphasizing the need of patience, the 58-year-old advised that players should have enough time to become used to the requirements of T20 cricket.

“Player should be given time to settle in T20 cricket,” he advised.

Regarding India-Pakistan cricket ties, Wasim was careful and said, “I cannot comment on what might change in Pakistan-India cricket.”

It is relevant to note that after former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie left, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had already named Aqib Javed as the red-ball coach.

Until Pakistan’s visit to New Zealand in April, Aqib acted as temporary head coach for all forms. The former bowler was recently appointed Director of High Performance; former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson replaced him as Pakistan’s white-ball coach. Starting from May 28 to June 1, Hesson’s first task for the inexperienced national team is a three-match T20I home series against Bangladesh.

Lead by Litton Das, the Bangladesh team has arrived in Pakistan and will start practicing tonight before the crucial game. The Men in Green will keep up their white-ball series meanwhile, then start their first red-ball assignment in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), 2025–27 cycle.

After the Asia Cup in September, Pakistan is expected to host South Africa in October for a two-match Test series together with three ODIs and three T20s.