Shane Watson steps down as head coach of Quetta Gladiators

Quetta Gladiators Head Coach Shane Watson will step down ahead of HBL PSL Season 10 due to schedule changes affecting his prior commitments, the franchise announced on social media on Wednesday.

Franchise owner Nadeem Omar praised Watson, stating: "Quetta Gladiators will always be indebted to Shane Watson for his outstanding contributions. He remains one of the top superstars associated with our franchise."

Watson, often regarded as a lucky charm for the franchise, played a pivotal role in Quetta's success both as a player and coach.

During Watson's tenure as a player, Quetta clinched their first PSL title in 2019, where he amassed 430 runs and earned the 'Player of the Tournament' accolade.

Appointed head coach in 2024, Watson led the team to the playoffs after a four-season drought.

With Watson’s departure, reports suggest that franchise veteran Sarfaraz Ahmed, unpicked in the PSL 2025 draft, may be appointed as the new head coach. Ahmed, a Gladiators mainstay since 2016, is poised to make a comeback in this leadership role.