LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially announced the appointment of former South African cricketer Michael Smith as the new batting coach for the Pakistan men’s cricket team.
Smith has signed a two-year contract and will oversee the national team’s batting lineup across both red-ball and white-ball formats.
The 46-year-old coach will officially assume his responsibilities ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming three-Test series against England, which is scheduled to commence on August 19.
Under the terms of his two-year agreement, Smith is tasked with sharpening the technical and tactical edge of Pakistan’s top and middle-order batters in Tests, One-Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals.
Smith brings an impressive coaching resume to the national setup, holding a prestigious Level 4 Coaching Qualification.
His familiarization with Pakistani cricket conditions and talent is extensive, having previously served on the coaching staff of three Pakistan Super League franchises: Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans.
Beyond his PSL experience, Smith has held high-profile coaching assignments internationally, serving as batting coach for Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania in Australia, as well as working as a coaching consultant with South Africa’s KZN Inland and Eastern Province teams.
During his decade-long professional playing career spanning from 2003 to 2013, the right-handed batsman played 89 first-class, 72 List A, and 16 T20 matches. Throughout his professional playing days, he accumulated a total of 7,029 runs across all three formats, registering 9 centuries and 40 half-centuries.
Sports analysts and former players have welcomed the PCB’s decision, noting that Smith’s extensive experience in subcontinental conditions combined with his elite coaching credentials make him a strong fit.
Experts believe his strategic insight and modern coaching methods will bring much-needed consistency to Pakistan’s batting order while positively influencing the broader domestic cricket structure.
