Why was Azhar Mahmood removed from the team management position? A surprising reason

Former assistant coach of the national cricket team, Azhar Mahmood, has reportedly been excluded from the team management setup due to his association with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, Islamabad United. According to media sources, national team head coach Mike Hesson is allegedly favoring individuals linked to Islamabad United, raising concerns over internal lobbying. In light of these developments, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to omit Azhar Mahmood from the coaching panel for now. Alongside him, former batting great Mohammad Yousuf has also been left out, with both having already been sidelined during the recent Bangladesh series. Sources suggest that Azhar’s removal is intended to send a strong signal to Hesson to concentrate solely on coaching duties and steer clear of political maneuvering. It has also been reported that since taking charge, Hesson has opposed Shadab Khan’s return and has influenced the inclusion of certain preferred staff members. Azhar Mahmood, who previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach and was once a candidate for the head coach role, now finds himself out of the current setup amid ongoing claims of internal power dynamics.