Former cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board's process for selecting an assistant coach for the national team. 

He urged PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi not to rely on recommendations and questioned the selection criteria, noting that the advertised requirement for a Level 2 coach fell short compared to standards elsewhere.

“PCB have advertised 1st time for assistant coach role but looking for a Level 2 coach. Even clubs in the UK advertise for Level 3 coaches as their minimum requirement. 

@MohsinnaqviC42 sahab please don’t sign an assistant on recommendations,” Atiq wrote on X, which was formerly known as Twitter.

“In Pakistan, no one recommend a deserving person. We need a high qualified and experienced assistant who is an excellent communicator too,” he added.

Former cricketer Azhar Mahmood is a strong candidate for the assistant coach position for the Pakistan men’s national team. 

Mahmood, who currently serves as the bowling coach for Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Islamabad United, has emerged as a frontrunner. The PCB recently advertised the assistant coach role, which will provide support to both the red-ball and white-ball coaches.

The PCB has set a deadline of April 20 for interested candidates to apply, with a minimum requirement of Level 2 coaching accreditation and three years of experience at international, franchise, or domestic level.