South African coach Michael Smith has been appointed as the batting coach for the Pakistan men’s cricket team on a two-year contract, confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Smith will oversee the batting departments for both red-ball and white-ball formats and is expected to join the squad in time for the upcoming three-match Test series against England, which begins on August 19.
Currently, Umar Gul holds the position of bowling coach for the national Test team, but the batting coach role had remained unfilled on a permanent basis. Former Test player Asad Shafiq occasionally offered batting advice in his role as a selector, but the full responsibility now lies with Smith.
Pakistan’s batting has faced significant criticism recently, with frequent collapses in Test matches raising concerns within the cricket board. In the first Test against the West Indies, Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs after reaching 244 for 3, eventually being bowled out for 120 while chasing 211.
Statistically, the problem is stark. Since the start of 2025, Pakistan’s bottom four batsmen have averaged only 9.91 runs per wicket, the lowest among all Test-playing nations during this period. Additionally, Pakistan’s bowlers have struggled to dismiss lower-order batsmen quickly, further complicating the team’s challenges in the longer format.
Fans are optimistic that Smith’s appointment will bring much-needed stability to the batting lineup and help the team overcome its recent struggles. Pakistan is currently engaged in a Test series against the West Indies and sits ninth in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
Michael Smith’s playing career includes 7,029 runs across First-Class, List A, and T20 cricket for South Africa, featuring 9 centuries and 40 half-centuries. His coaching experience includes stints with three HBL PSL franchises such as Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans, as well as roles as batting coach for the Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania.
