Smith handed two-year contract across all formats

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed former South Africa first-class cricketer and coach Michael Smith as the batting coach of the men's national team. The 46-year-old has been handed a two-year contract and will oversee Pakistan's batting across both red-ball and white-ball formats.

A Level 4 qualified coach, Smith enjoyed a decade-long playing career between 2003 and 2013, featuring in 89 first-class matches, 72 List A games, and 16 T20s. He brings extensive coaching experience to the role, having worked in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans.

His coaching résumé also includes stints as batting coach with Australia's Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania, while he has served as a coaching consultant for South Africa's KZN Inland and Eastern Province.

Appointment comes amid persistent batting failures

Smith's appointment comes at a crucial time as Pakistan seek to address their recurring batting failures, particularly in pressure situations across formats. The national team has not had a full-time batting coach in recent times, with national selector Asad Shafiq occasionally stepping into the role. Former fast bowler Umar Gul continues as the team's bowling coach.

Pakistan sit ninth in the ICC World Test Championship standings, and their fragile batting has become a recurring concern in recent years. Their inability to capitalise on strong positions has contributed significantly to a poor run in the longest format, with the team losing 13 of their last 17 Tests.

Batting collapses continue to haunt Pakistan in West Indies

Pakistan are currently touring the West Indies for a two-match Test series and are already trailing 0-1 after suffering a 90-run defeat in the opening Test. Despite being well placed at 244/3 in the first innings, they lost their final seven wickets for just 38 runs, before being bowled out for 120 while chasing 211 in the fourth innings.

The second Test was already underway, and at stumps on Day 2, Pakistan were 76 runs behind with eight wickets in hand, still battling to level the series.

England tour looms on the horizon

Smith is set to begin his tenure ahead of Pakistan's three-match Test series against England, which starts on August 19. The Pakistan men's cricket team is scheduled to tour England from August 19 to September 13, 2026, to play a three-match Test series that forms an integral part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship.

Pakistan are currently concluding a red-ball tour in the West Indies and will arrive in England later this month, armed with their newly appointed long-term batting coach to address recent batting form issues.