The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed former South African first-class cricketer and coach Michael Smith as the batting coach for the national men’s cricket team. The 46-year-old has signed a two-year contract, filling a long-standing vacancy to address the team’s persistent batting struggles. Smith is set to work across both red-ball and white-ball formats, with his tenure beginning ahead of the crucial three-match Test series against England, starting on August 19.
The demand for a specialized batting coach intensified following Pakistan’s recent batting collapse during the first Test against the West Indies in Tarouba. While Umar Gul has served as the bowling coach, the batting department lacked a dedicated full-time expert, with national selector Asad Shafiq occasionally filling the void. Smith, a Level-4 certified coach, brings significant experience to the role. He is already well-acquainted with the local cricket landscape, having previously worked with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises including Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans.
Smith’s coaching resume extends beyond Pakistan, as he has held roles with the Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania in Australia, alongside serving as a consultant for various South African teams. During his playing career from 2003 to 2013, the right-handed batsman accumulated over 7,000 runs across 89 first-class, 72 List A, and 16 T20 matches, recording nine centuries and 40 half-centuries in the process.
Revitalizing a struggling batting lineup will be Smith’s primary objective as the team looks to recover from a difficult period. Pakistan has faced a challenging run in the international arena, suffering eight consecutive Test defeats away from home since the 2023-24 tour of Australia. The upcoming series against England serves as a critical opportunity for the squad to rectify their technical deficiencies and reverse their recent downward trajectory in the longest format of the game.
