Azhar Mehmood was unable to attend the CPL coaching due to his Pakistani nationality.

Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood recently revealed that he missed out on a coaching opportunity in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) due to his nationality. Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast, Mahmood recounted the experience, which occurred nearly four years ago, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mahmood explained that a CPL franchise had initially offered him a coaching position, but the deal ultimately fell through. “I was offered a coaching role at a franchise. Later, I discovered that because I am Pakistani, they said they could not have any Pakistani coach or player in the squad,” he said.

Career Highlights

Mahmood enjoyed a prolific career for Pakistan, representing his country in 164 international matches between 1996 and 2007, including 21 Test appearances. He also had a long stint in English county cricket, playing for Surrey from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2013 to 2016, as well as for Kent from 2008 to 2012. After obtaining British citizenship in 2011, he became eligible to play as a local player in county cricket.

Mahmood made a name for himself as a pace-bowling all-rounder and later transitioned into coaching. He was appointed bowling coach of Pakistan’s U-19 team in 2016, a role he held for three years. In 2024, he was named head coach of the senior national team for the T20 series in New Zealand and also served as interim head coach following Jason Gillespie’s resignation. Beyond the national team, Mahmood has worked as a bowling coach in multiple Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises.

Challenges in the Franchise Circuit

Reflecting on the broader franchise cricket ecosystem, Mahmood said, “This is not an ideal situation for me. I am a recognised coach in England, have coached at Surrey in county cricket, and spent the last two years with the Pakistan setup. Yet, these two years in Pakistan have made it difficult to secure new opportunities.”

He added, “Everything is now tied to the IPL ecosystem. There are four to five franchise leagues, such as SA20 and Major League Cricket. Getting a coaching role in IPL or Indian-owned franchises is challenging. It’s not easy, and players face the same reality.”

Reports from the BBC indicate that Indian-owned franchises in The Hundred—including MI London, Sunrisers Leeds, Manchester Super Giants, and Southern Brave—do not intend to sign Pakistani cricketers. Mahmood urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to take note, highlighting the strong presence of the Pakistani community in England and the close relations between ECB and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The ECB has clarified that franchises cannot be forced to sign specific players. However, any evidence of discrimination in player selection may lead to strict action, including investigation by independent cricket regulators. Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Harry Brook also commented, emphasising that cricketing decisions should never be influenced by politics. Brook described the exclusion of Pakistanis from The Hundred as “regrettable.”