Shane Watson challenged by West Indian World Cup winner for Pakistan Head Coach position
Published - 10 Mar 2024, 02:09 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:27 AM
Former West Indies skipper Daren Sammy is in line to become the next head coach of the Pakistan national cricket team. The board has been in search of a new head coach since Mohammad Hafeez who was with the side for the Australia and New Zealand series.
Pakistan’s Test series loss to Australia and T20I series loss to New Zealand saw Hafeez step down from his temporary role with the side. PCB is now keen on having someone for a permanent role and they are interested in investing in experienced overseas players and coaching staff.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup in June, the board is willing to hire an experienced candidate who has enough experience of leading and coaching successful teams.
Alongside Daren Sammy, PCB also has a keen eye on Shane Watson. Watson is currently in Pakistan after being named as the head coach of the Quetta Gladiators. He took them to the playoffs for the first time in five years impressing the PCB bosses in the process.
However, there are logistical issues with the selection of Watson. He lives in Sydney with his family and also has commentary commitments with Star Sports in ICC events and even in the IPL.
Plus he is also the head coach of the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket. The PCB is impressed by what he has done with the Gladiators in the PSL but is fearful of how much time he can give to the national team given his commitments with his family as well.
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Daren Sammy On PCB’s Radar For Head Coach Role Of Pakistan
Meanwhile, Daren Sammy’s long-standing relationships with Pakistan could serve him well and lead to his appointment as the head coach of the national team. He has been an inspiring figure in Pakistan cricket since his days with the Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL.
He inspired his fellow overseas players of the Zalmi team to tour the country for the PSL 2017 final while the Quetta Gladiators players stayed away. He has played for Peshawar in the past and now has led them to the playoffs of PSL 2024 as a coach.
The newly-elected PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi earlier this week said that the board was figuring out the best possible option ensuring that only the best will be selected for this prestigious job. Pakistan changed its entire administration after the World Cup.
Ramiz Raja stepped down as the PCB Chairman and he was replaced by Zaka Ashraf. The PCB then announced Shan Masood as the Test skipper and Shaheen Shah Afridi as the T20I skipper.
Under Masood, Pakistan then were whitewashed in the Test series against Australia. New Zealand, on the other hand, defeated Pakistan 3-0 in a T20I series leading to Zaka Ashraf stepping down from his position.
The constant administrative changes at the PCB further hampered the selection of coaches as none were given a longer run. The appointment of Mohammad Hafeez after Pakistan’s disappointing World Cup campaign for the Australia and Pakistan tours also ended in disappointment. Pakistan players are currently playing in the PSL, the final of which is to be played on March 18.
