DHAKA: Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has put his support behind the team’s newly-appointed head coach Sarfraz Ahmed ahead of his first assignment; a two-match Test series against Bangladesh.

Sarfraz was handed the role last month after it was left vacant by former head coach Azhar Mahmood, whose contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board ended in March.

Sarfraz’s appointment had raised eyebrows due to the former skipper’s lack of experience as coach at the senior level.

He has worked with the Pakistan Shaheens — the country’s developmental side — and the national U-19 team as mentor, while also announcing retirement from international cricket in March.

Friday will mark Sarfraz’s debut as head coach as Pakistan take on Bangladesh in the first Test. The second game will start May 16.

“He played with us when he was captain, when we played our first games.,” Shaheen told reporters on Wednesday. “So those memories are still in our minds and he knows very well how to use all the players and how to use all conditions.

“So I think for Pakistan cricket, I feel [this] is the best option right now.”

Sarfraz’s staff also features former Pakistan players Asad Shafiq and Umar Gul. Shaheen said an all-Pakistani coaching unit was helpful for the players.

“Having a coaching staff with all Pakistani former players removes the language barrier among the team,” noted the left-armer. “That improves communication between the coaches and the players, which I feel is much easier. You understand what the player and the team wants.”

The Bangladesh games will be Pakistan’s first Test series since October, when they played against South Africa at home, drawing the two-match series 1-1. It was also Pakistan’s first series of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

The period in between has been heavily dominated by white-ball cricket.

“It’s not easy actually,” Shaheen said about playing Tests after a long gap. “Our last Test series was against South Africa in Pakistan — that was a long time ago.”

However, the 26-year-old added that himself and the other Pakistan pacers managed their respective workloads on the sidelines of their Pakistan Super League campaign.

“Even in the PSL, as soon as matches would finish, we used to do extra bowling on the side wickets,” he said. “Because we were preparing that if we suddenly come into Test cricket, how to manage our bowling load.

“And in the four-five days we got [before the series], we tried to bowl 20-25 overs in those days so that we could get used to Test cricket.”

Pictures coming in from the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday suggested Bangladesh, known for their spin-friendly conditions, are preparing pitches conducive for fast-bowling as they look to unleash their increasingly exciting pace sensation Nahid Rana alongside Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam.

But Pakistan’s squad also features some season red-ball campaigners, including Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shehzad. Test mainstays Sajid Khan and Noman Ali will carry out the spin duties.

“Abbas bhai and Khurram have come — they are seamers, so when there are green tracks, your seamers become very effective,” Shaheen said. “Such bowlers can help you a lot.

“... when there is a spin track, Sajid and Noman will also bowl well. Our goal is how to take 20 wickets and win the match.”

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026