Former South African first-class cricketer Michael Smith joins Pakistan on a two-year deal and will begin his tenure with the upcoming Test series against England.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former South African first-class cricketer Michael Smith as the national men’s batting coach on a two-year contract, bolstering the team’s coaching staff ahead of a demanding international schedule.
The 46-year-old will oversee batting development for both Pakistan’s Test and limited-overs squads. His first assignment will be the three-match Test series against England, scheduled to begin on August 19.
The PCB confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, saying Smith’s extensive coaching background and international experience will strengthen Pakistan’s batting unit across all formats as the team prepares for a busy season.
During his playing career, Smith scored 7,029 runs in first-class, List A and T20 cricket, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries. Although he did not represent South Africa internationally, he built a reputation as a dependable performer in domestic cricket.
Smith is widely respected in coaching circles and holds a prestigious Level 4 coaching qualification. He has previously worked with several HBL Pakistan Super League franchises, providing him with valuable knowledge of Pakistan’s cricket structure and many of its current players.
His coaching résumé also includes roles with Australia’s Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania, where he was credited with helping improve batting techniques and developing emerging talent.
The appointment comes as Pakistan aims to address batting inconsistencies following mixed performances in recent international fixtures. With England set to tour Pakistan for a challenging Test series, the PCB hopes Smith’s expertise will help the national side produce more reliable performances with the bat.
Smith is expected to join the squad during the pre-series training camp before Pakistan begins its home Test campaign against England. His arrival reflects the PCB’s continued efforts to strengthen the national team’s coaching framework and improve competitiveness across all formats.
About The Author
