Pakistan have taken another significant step in reshaping their men’s cricket setup by appointing a dedicated batting coach ahead of an important phase of the international calendar. The move comes at a time when the team’s batting has been under intense scrutiny following a series of inconsistent performances, particularly in the Test arena. With a demanding tour of England on the horizon, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted to strengthen its support staff in the hope of improving the team’s performances across formats.

PCB appoints new batting coach of Pakistan men’s team

PCB confirmed on Tuesday (August 4) that former South African first-class cricketer and coach Michael Smith has been appointed as the batting coach of the Pakistan men’s team on a two-year contract. Smith will oversee batting development for both the Test and limited-overs sides, filling a specialist position that had remained vacant for several months. His appointment follows growing demands for a dedicated batting coach after Pakistan’s dramatic batting collapse in the Tarouba Test against the West Indies, a defeat that reignited concerns over the team’s fragile batting unit.

The 46-year-old is expected to join the national squad before Pakistan’s three-match Test series against England, which gets underway on August 19. His arrival comes at a crucial stage as Pakistan seek to rebuild confidence in red-ball cricket after a difficult run overseas. Before Smith’s appointment, former Pakistan batter and national selector Asad Shafiq had occasionally assisted with batting duties, while Umar Gul continued as the designated bowling coach for the Test side. The PCB has now chosen to establish a permanent batting coaching structure by bringing in an experienced specialist.

Although Smith never represented South Africa at the international level, he has earned widespread respect in coaching circles. A Level 4 qualified coach, he has built an impressive coaching résumé through domestic and franchise cricket around the world. His familiarity with Pakistan cricket could prove valuable. Smith has previously worked in the Pakistan Super League with Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans, giving him firsthand experience of the country’s cricketing environment and several members of the current national setup.

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Experienced campaigner to change fortunes for Pakistan?

Beyond the PSL, Smith has also served as batting coach for Australia’s Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania. His coaching portfolio further includes consultancy roles with South Africa’s KZN Inland and Eastern Province, reflecting his broad experience across different cricketing systems. As a player, Smith enjoyed a productive domestic career between 2003 and 2013. Across 89 first-class matches, 72 List A games and 16 T20s, the right-handed batter accumulated 7,029 runs, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries.

Smith steps into one of the most challenging coaching roles in Pakistan cricket. While the side possesses several talented batters, consistency has remained elusive, particularly in overseas Test matches. Pakistan’s batting has often struggled to convert promising starts into match-winning totals, with collapses becoming a recurring theme. Their recent defeat in the Caribbean once again highlighted issues surrounding shot selection, partnerships and handling pressure in challenging conditions.

The upcoming England tour offers an immediate opportunity for Smith to make an impact. Pakistan enter the three-Test series looking to halt a worrying run of eight consecutive away Test defeats dating back to the 2023-24 tour of Australia.

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