Rawalpindi, October 16,2026: Pakistan batting coach Michael Smith has emphasised adaptability, problem-solving and batting depth as key priorities for the national team during the 12 months leading up to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
Pakistan are scheduled to play an extensive programme of One-Day International (ODI) cricket at home and abroad before the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October and November 2027.
With playing conditions expected to vary across the three host countries, Smith believes exposure to different pitches and bowling attacks will be essential in preparing Pakistan’s batters for the global event.
Speaking to PCB Digital during the team’s first training session on Thursday, Smith reflected on Pakistan’s recent T20I series against Sri Lanka, where the team played on pitches offering additional pace and bounce.
“I think we played really well against Sri Lanka in the T20Is on some wickets that we asked for a little bit of pace and bounce because that’s what we are going to be getting in 12 months’ time in the World Cup. So, it is good to play on a whole variety of wickets, not just on one type of pitch,” he said.
Highlighting the challenges of the World Cup, Smith said teams would need to adjust quickly to changing conditions throughout the competition.
“In the World Cup, you are going to be playing in different places in South Africa and Zimbabwe, where you could come across five different pitches in five different games,” he added.
Smith joined Pakistan ahead of their three-match Test series against England and has since worked with the national side across all three formats. He has also gained experience of local conditions through two seasons of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Smith said developing players’ ability to assess match situations and make effective decisions would be central to his coaching approach.
“The biggest thing that we talk about is problem-solving and being able to have the skill set to play on different wickets against different bowling attacks because, when you get into games, you want your batters to be able to think about the right things, make good choices and play in different ways within their own game,” he said.
He added that the world’s best batters understand what their teams need at different stages of a match and can adjust their approach accordingly.
“The best batters in the world problem-solve exceptionally well, and they almost think about what’s important now for the team. That’s our biggest thing going forward: how can we build that a lot into our squad? Winning games from different positions, can you win a game from being in front or from being behind?” Smith said.
Pakistan have considerable experience in their batting lineup, with former captain Babar Azam having scored 20 ODI centuries in 143 matches. Salman Ali Agha has also established himself as a consistent contributor, having been the only batter to score more than 1,000 ODI runs since the 2023 World Cup.
Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan’s only double centurion in ODIs, remains another important option ahead of the upcoming tri-series. The left-hander has recorded three of Pakistan’s four highest individual scores in the format, including an unbeaten 210, 193 and an unbeaten 180.
Two of those innings came in Bulawayo and Johannesburg, venues in countries that will host the 2027 World Cup.
The squad also includes Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and uncapped wicketkeeper Saad Baig. All-rounders Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Arafat Minhas are expected to contribute to strengthening the lower order.
However, Smith said Pakistan needed reliable alternatives in every batting position rather than depending on a few established players.
“Going to the World Cup, we want to build a lot of depth in all the batting positions. We don’t want to be a team that relies on two or three players. We want to know who our two or three best players are in every position and hopefully give them enough experience so we can set them up for success,” he said.
Looking ahead to the ODI tri-series, Smith said Pakistan would focus on developing their strongest combinations while establishing a consistent winning approach.
“We want to play a winning brand of cricket, and for us, that starts now with the tri-series. There is a lot of excitement. I think the hard part is giving guys opportunities because there are so many quality players,” he said.
He also praised the learning environment within the squad, saying experienced players could help younger teammates improve through shared knowledge and match experience.
“Probably the biggest thing is the learning environment in the squad. The players are sharing a lot with the younger players, and our biggest thing is that we want to give guys opportunities but also teach them that, when you win games, it becomes a habit, and winning from everywhere becomes a habit. That’s the true hallmark of really good teams,” Smith said.
He acknowledged that balancing player development with the need to win matches and series would remain a challenge over the coming year.
“It is a balancing act between trying to see who our best players are depth-wise at certain positions, as well as winning games and series, because there is nothing that builds confidence more than going into the World Cup when you have 12 months of really good white-ball cricket,” he concluded.
