Pakistan Appoint Michael Smith as National Batting Coach Ahead of England Tour

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former South African first-class cricketer and experienced coach Michael Smith as the batting coach of the Pakistan men's national team.

Smith, a Level 4 qualified coach, will work with both the Test and white-ball squads. His first assignment will be Pakistan's upcoming three-match Test series against England, beginning on August 19 in Leeds.

The PCB officially confirmed Smith's appointment on July 4, filling a role that had remained vacant in recent months. Before his arrival, national selector Asad Shafiq had occasionally assisted with batting responsibilities, but Smith will now assume the role on a full-time basis.

Smith is no stranger to Pakistan cricket, having previously worked in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as a coach with Islamabad United. More recently, he served as assistant coach of Multan Sultans, gaining valuable experience within Pakistan's domestic and franchise cricket setup.

His appointment comes at a time when Pakistan's batting, particularly in Test cricket, has faced intense criticism following a series of disappointing performances. The team's recurring batting collapses have been a major factor behind its struggles in the longest format.

In their most recent Test against the West Indies, Pakistan squandered a commanding position after slipping from 244 for 3 to lose their final seven wickets for just 38 runs in the first innings. The visitors then failed to chase 211, collapsing for 120 in the fourth innings to suffer another defeat.

Such performances have contributed to Pakistan losing 13 of their last 17 Test matches, highlighting the urgent need for improvement in the batting department.

The lower order has been another area of concern. Since the start of 2025, Pakistan's last four batters have averaged just 9.91 runs per wicket, the lowest among all Test-playing nations during that period. Their struggles have been compounded by the bowling unit's inability to dismiss opposition tailenders cheaply, with rival teams' last four wickets averaging 27.02 runs per wicket against Pakistan since May 2024—also the worst record among Test sides.

The PCB will hope Smith's experience and coaching expertise can strengthen Pakistan's batting unit as the team prepares for a challenging Test series in England. The opening Test of the three-match series will begin at Headingley, Leeds, on August 19.