PCB ropes in Michael Smith as batting coach

Former South African cricketer Michael Smith has been hired by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as batting coach of the men's team, the Board confirmed on Tuesday. The 46-year-old will work with the team across both red-ball and white-ball formats, the Board said.

Smith featured in 89 first-class matches, 72 List-A matches and 16 T20 matches from 2003 to 2013. The former right-handed batsman scored 7,029 runs across the three formats, including nine centuries and 40 fifties.

Smith, who holds a Level 4 coaching qualification, has served on the coaching staffs of three HBL PSL franchises: Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans. He has also worked as batting coach with Australia’s Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania.

As a coaching consultant, Smith has worked with South Africa’s KZN Inland and Eastern Province.

Smith, who has been appointed for a two-year term, will join the Pakistan team ahead of the three-match Test series against England, commencing on August 19.

The addition of Smith addresses a key vacancy in Pakistan's coaching set-up at a time when the team's batting performances, particularly in Test cricket, have come under increasing scrutiny.

Former Pakistan Test batsman Asad Shafiq, who also serves as a national selector, has been carrying out batting coach responsibilities with the national side on an interim basis. However, he has not been serving as the team's full-time designated batting coach, prompting the PCB to look for a permanent specialist.

Pakistan's recent batting struggles have reinforced the need for specialist support. During their ongoing Test series against the West Indies, Pakistan were dismissed for just 120 while chasing a target of 211 in the opening Test, exposing persistent technical and mental shortcomings in the batting unit.

The team's batting also came under pressure during the Bangladesh series, where inconsistent performances highlighted the absence of a permanent batting coach capable of providing long-term technical guidance and continuity.

Smith's appointment may help improve Pakistan's batting consistency in both Test and limited-overs cricket as the side prepares for a challenging overseas assignment against England.

Pakistan's tour of England is expected to provide one of the sternest tests for the batting line-up, with English conditions traditionally demanding greater discipline and technical proficiency from visiting batsmen.

Smith's immediate task will be to work closely with Pakistan's top and middle order in refining their technique and building greater resilience against high-quality pace bowling, areas that have repeatedly troubled the side in recent Test matches.

His appointment is also part of the PCB's broader effort to strengthen the national team's support staff with specialist coaches ahead of a busy international calendar.