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New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a major administrative decision prematurely terminating the contract of Test team head coach Azhar Mahmood. This decision comes at a time when the teams on-field performance has been consistently under scrutiny and a period of change is underway at the board level. Why the premature decision? Azhar Mahmoods contract was until March 2026 but the PCB decided to release him three months early. According to reports Pakistans next Test series is not scheduled before March 2026 so the board felt it was best to begin preparations for the future now. Search for a new coach begins Azhar Mahmood had held various roles in the team management over the past few years and was appointed head coach of the Test team last year. The PCB has now begun the search for a new Test head coach and there are indications that significant changes may also be made to the support staff. Upcoming Test calendar Pakistans next World Test Championship cycle will begin in March 2026 with a tour of Bangladesh. This will be followed by tours to the West Indies in July and England in August–September. Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan in November–December 2026 and New Zealand will visit in March 2027. Recent performance a cause for concern Under the captaincy of Shan Masood the Pakistani Test team has struggled recently. The team suffered a 0-2 defeat in South Africa while the home series against the West Indies and South Africa ended in a 1-1 draw. The lack of consistent results has increased pressure on the coaching setup. Story Highlights PCB terminates Test coach Azhar Mahmoods contract prematurely Pakistan has no Test series scheduled before March 2026 Board begins search for a new Test head coach Recent Test results have increased pressure on team management