Australian coach Michael Smith joins Pakistan setup ahead of England Test series to strengthen batting performance across formats.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed Australian cricket coach Michael Smith as the batting coach of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team on a two-year contract.
The announcement was made on Tuesday as the board continues efforts to strengthen the national side across all formats of the game.
The 46-year-old coach will work with both Pakistan’s red-ball and white-ball squads, taking charge of batting responsibilities from the start of the upcoming international assignments.
His appointment comes at a crucial time as Pakistan prepares for a busy international calendar, including the highly anticipated home Test series against England.
According to the PCB, Smith is set to join the national squad ahead of the three-match Test series against England, which is scheduled to commence on August 19, 2026.
The board believes his expertise and experience will play an important role in improving Pakistan’s batting consistency and overall performance.
Michael Smith brings a wealth of cricketing knowledge to the position, having enjoyed a successful playing career before transitioning into coaching.
Across first-class, List A, and Twenty20 cricket, he accumulated 7,029 runs, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries. His extensive experience as a batter is expected to provide valuable guidance to Pakistan’s top-order and middle-order players.
In addition to his achievements as a player, Smith possesses a Level 4 coaching qualification, one of the highest coaching certifications available in cricket. His coaching credentials have been further strengthened through his work with prominent domestic and franchise teams.
During his coaching career, Smith has served as batting coach for the Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania, where he played a key role in player development and batting strategies.
He also has familiarity with Pakistan cricket, having previously worked with three franchises in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The PCB views Smith’s appointment as a strategic move aimed at enhancing the batting department and helping Pakistan achieve greater success in international cricket.
With major series and tournaments on the horizon, the board hopes his expertise will contribute to building a stronger and more reliable batting unit capable of delivering consistent performances across all formats.