The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed former South African cricketer Michael Smith as batting coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team for a two-year term, the board announced on Tuesday. According to a PCB press release, the 46-year-old will work with the squad across both red-ball and white-ball formats and is set to join the team ahead of the three-match Test series against England, which begins on August 19.
Key Highlights
- Michael Smith appointed Pakistan men’s team batting coach for two years
- Will join the squad before the three-Test series against England starting August 19
- Scored 7,029 runs across 89 first-class, 72 List-A and 16 T20 matches from 2003 to 2013
- Holds a Level 4 coaching qualification
- Previously coached Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans in the PSL
- Replaces interim setup that included Asad Shafiq and, before him, Shahid Aslam
A Playing Career Built on Consistency
Smith’s playing record reflects a batter who scored runs steadily across formats rather than in isolated bursts. During his career between 2003 and 2013, the right-hander compiled 7,029 runs, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries, according to the PCB press release. That body of work, spread across first-class, List-A and T20 cricket, forms the foundation of the coaching resume Pakistan is now banking on.
PSL Experience Gives Him a Head Start in Pakistan
Smith is not new to Pakistan cricket circles. He has previously served on the coaching staff of three HBL Pakistan Super League franchises, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans, giving him firsthand exposure to Pakistani players and conditions before stepping into the national role. His coaching credentials extend beyond the PSL as well. He has worked as a batting coach with Australian franchise Hobart Hurricanes and with Cricket Tasmania, and has also taken on consultancy roles with South Africa’s KZN Inland and Eastern Province sides. He holds a Level 4 coaching qualification, the highest tier in the sport’s coaching framework.
Filling a Role That Has Seen Frequent Change
Smith takes over a position that has changed hands more than once in recent years. Former Test batter Asad Shafiq was appointed interim batting coach in April 2026 for the Bangladesh Test series and has since accompanied the team for its ongoing two-match Test series in the West Indies. Before Shafiq’s interim stint, Shahid Aslam held the role, having stepped in after replacing former Test captain Mohammad Yousuf in November 2024.
With the England series just over two weeks away, Smith will have limited time to settle in before facing his first major assignment, but his blend of playing experience and domestic Pakistan exposure gives the appointment an early sense of continuity rather than a complete reset.
