Lahore, August 4, 2026: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced the appointment of former South African cricketer Michael Smith as the batting coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team across all formats on a two-year contract.
The 46-year-old will work with the national side in both Test and limited-overs cricket, with his tenure beginning ahead of Pakistan’s three-match Test series against England later this month.
Smith enjoyed a professional playing career between 2003 and 2013, featuring in 89 first-class, 72 List A and 16 Twenty20 matches. The right-handed batter scored 7,029 runs across all formats, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries.
A Level 4 qualified coach, Smith brings extensive international and franchise coaching experience to the role. He has previously served on the coaching staff of three HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises — Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans.
He has also worked as batting coach for Australia’s Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania, in addition to serving as a coaching consultant for South Africa’s KZN Inland and Eastern Province.
Smith is expected to join the Pakistan squad ahead of the Test series against England, which begins on August 19.
The opening Test will be played at Headingley in Leeds from August 19 to 23, followed by the second Test at Lord’s in London from August 27 to 31. The three-match series will conclude with the final Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 9 to 13.
The PCB expressed confidence that Smith’s experience and expertise would strengthen Pakistan’s batting unit across all formats during his two-year tenure.
