Pakistan Coaching Staff 2026: Every Role, Every Vacancy
Beyond the head coach sits a full support staff — physios, analysts, managers, media teams. This is the complete Pakistan coaching staff rundown for 2026: who holds each role, which seats are empty, and who’s rumoured to fill them.
Quick answer: As of October 2026, Mike Hesson leads Pakistan’s coaching setup with sweeping technical and selection powers. Vacant: Test head coach, bowling coach, batting coach, fielding coach, physiotherapist and selector. Rumoured: Shaun Tait (bowling) and Martin Guptill (fielding).
The Full Staff Table
| Role | Holder / status |
|---|---|
| Head coach (white-ball) | Mike Hesson — in charge since 2025 |
| Head coach (Test) | Vacant — Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked Aug 2026 |
| Bowling coach | Vacant — Noffke resigned, Gul sacked |
| Batting coach | Vacant — Hanif Malik departed |
| Fielding coach | Vacant — McDermott resigned Jul 2026 |
| Assistant coach | Azhar Mahmood (previous setups) |
| Physiotherapist | Vacant — Cliffe Deacon departed 2026 |
| Strength & conditioning | Drikus Saaiman (previous setups) |
| Team manager | Mansoor Rana (previous setups) |
| Chief selector | Vacant — Misbah-ul-Haq resigned Sep 2026 |
2026 Departures
- Sarfaraz Ahmed — Test head coach, sacked August 2026.
- Umar Gul — bowling coach, sacked August 2026.
- Shane McDermott — fielding coach, resigned July 2026 (Afghanistan).
- Ashley Noffke — bowling coach, resigned 2026 (Netherlands head coach).
- Hanif Malik — batting coach, departed after Australia ODIs.
- Cliffe Deacon — physiotherapist, departed 2026.
- Misbah-ul-Haq — selector, resigned September 2026.
The Rumour Mill
- Shaun Tait — discussed for a bowling coach return (was in the role 2022–23).
- Martin Guptill — discussed for the fielding coach role (would be his first coaching job).
- Aaqib Javed — reported to have “taken a back seat” amid the shake-up.
More: coaches guide · Hesson profile · head coach history.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is on Pakistan’s coaching staff in 2026?
Mike Hesson leads as head coach with sweeping powers. The Test head coach, bowling coach, batting coach, fielding coach, physiotherapist and selector posts are all vacant as of October 2026.
Who left Pakistan’s coaching staff in 2026?
Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul (sacked), Shane McDermott, Ashley Noffke, Hanif Malik, Cliffe Deacon and Misbah-ul-Haq (resigned/departed).
Who will be Pakistan’s next bowling coach?
Unannounced — but reports link former coach Shaun Tait with a return, and Martin Guptill with the fielding role.
