PCB appoints Michael Smith as Pakistan batting coach on two-year deal
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the appointment of Michael Smith as the new batting coach of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team. The board confirmed that Smith has signed a two-year contract and will work with both the Test and limited-overs squads.
The appointment comes as Pakistan prepares for an important three-match Test series against England. Smith is expected to join the national squad before the series begins on August 19.
مائیکل سمتھ پاکستان مینز ٹیم کے بیٹنگ کوچ مقرر۔
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) August 4, 2026
پی سی بی نے مائیکل سمتھ کی تقرری کی تصدیق کر دی۔
مائیکل سمتھ ریڈ بال اور وائٹ بال ٹیموں کے ساتھ کام کریں گے۔
46 سالہ مائیکل سمتھ دو سال کے لیے بیٹنگ کوچ مقرر۔
مائیکل سمتھ نے فرسٹ کلاس، لسٹ اے اور ٹی ٹوئنٹی میں 7,029 رنز بنائے۔…
Michael Smith brings years of coaching experience
Michael Smith is 46 years old and has built a strong reputation as a cricket coach over the years. He holds a Level 4 coaching qualification, which is one of the highest coaching certifications in professional cricket.
Before joining Pakistan, Smith worked as the batting coach for Cricket Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes in Australia. His experience in domestic and franchise cricket has earned him recognition as a specialist batting coach.
Smith is also familiar with Pakistan cricket because he has previously been part of the coaching staff of three different HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises. This experience is expected to help him adjust quickly to the national team environment.
Strong playing career adds to his profile
Apart from coaching, Michael Smith also enjoyed a successful playing career. Across First-Class, List A and T20 cricket, he scored a total of 7,029 runs.
His batting record includes nine centuries and 40 half-centuries, reflecting his consistency across different formats of the game. His experience as both a player and coach is expected to benefit Pakistan’s batting unit.
The PCB believes that Smith’s knowledge and coaching background can help improve the performance of Pakistan’s batters in both red-ball and white-ball cricket.
Pakistan prepare for England Test series
Smith will officially begin his role ahead of Pakistan’s three-match Test series against England, which starts on August 19. The upcoming series is considered an important challenge for the national side.
The PCB hopes the new coaching setup will strengthen Pakistan’s batting performance against top international teams. His role will include working with senior players as well as helping young batters develop their skills.
Michael Smith replaces former Pakistan captain Asad Shafiq, who served as interim batting coach after taking charge in April 2026.
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Although Shafiq is leaving the coaching position, he will continue to serve Pakistan cricket as a national selector. The PCB said his experience will remain valuable in team selection and future planning.
The appointment reflects the board’s efforts to strengthen the coaching staff with experienced professionals ahead of a busy international cricket schedule.
