LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed former South African cricketer Michael Smith as batting coach of the national men’s team across Test and limited-overs formats.
Smith, 46, has been appointed for a two-year term and will join the Pakistan squad before its three-match Test series against England, beginning on August 19. Pakistan will play the series from August 19 to September 13 as part of the International Cricket Council World Test Championship 2025–27.
The appointment strengthens Pakistan’s coaching set-up as the team prepares for an important period of international cricket across red-ball and white-ball formats.
Smith holds a Level 4 coaching qualification and has accumulated extensive experience with domestic and franchise teams in several countries.
He previously served on the coaching staffs of three Pakistan Super League franchises — Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans — giving him familiarity with Pakistani players and local cricketing conditions.
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The former right-handed batter has also worked as batting coach with Australia’s Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania. His other coaching roles include consultancy assignments with South African domestic sides KwaZulu-Natal Inland and Eastern Province.
During his playing career from 2003 to 2013, Smith appeared in 89 first-class matches, 72 List A games and 16 Twenty20 fixtures.
He scored 7,029 runs across the three formats, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries.
Smith is expected to focus on improving Pakistan’s batting consistency, technical preparation and ability to perform under different match conditions.
Pakistan will enter the England series after completing its two-Test tour of the West Indies.
