Pakistan appoint Michael Smith as batting coach

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former South African first-class cricketer Michael Smith as the national team’s new batting coach on a two-year contract, reinforcing the coaching setup ahead of a crucial international season.

Smith, 46, will work with both Pakistan’s red-ball and white-ball squads, with his first assignment set to be the upcoming three-match Test series against England, which begins on August 19.

The PCB officially confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, expressing confidence that Smith’s extensive coaching background and international experience will strengthen Pakistan’s batting unit across all formats.

During his playing career, Smith scored 7,029 runs across first-class, List A and T20 cricket. He also registered nine centuries and 40 half-centuries, establishing himself as a consistent performer in South Africa’s domestic circuit.

Beyond his playing achievements, Smith is regarded as an experienced coach with a Level 4 coaching qualification, one of the highest coaching certifications in cricket. He has previously worked with multiple HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises, giving him valuable insight into Pakistan’s cricketing environment and many of the country’s leading players.

His coaching résumé also includes roles as batting coach for Australia’s Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania, where he earned recognition for developing players and improving batting performances.

Smith’s appointment comes at an important time for Pakistan, with the national side preparing for a challenging home Test series against England. The PCB hopes his expertise will help address batting inconsistencies and strengthen the team’s performance in both Test and limited-overs cricket.

Pakistan will begin their three-match Test series against England on August 19, with Smith expected to join the squad during its pre-series training camp.

The appointment reflects the PCB’s continued focus on building a strong coaching structure as the team prepares for a packed international calendar. Fans will now be eager to see whether the experienced South African can make an immediate impact and help Pakistan’s batters deliver more consistent performances on the international stage.