The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly considering the services of Gary Kirsten from South Africa or Justin Langer from Australia for the position of head coach. Both Kirsten and Langer have notable coaching experience, with Kirsten having previously coached the Indian team and Langer having coached the Australian team in the past.
The PCB is keen on securing a long-term contract for the new head coach, signaling its intent to stabilize the coaching position within the team. Following the dismissal of coach Brad Burn after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the last year’s World Cup, the team has been without a head coach since then.
While former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez had worked as both team director and head coach during Pakistan’s tours of Australia and New Zealand, he resigned from the position last month. Since then, the PCB has been actively searching for a suitable replacement.
Initially, the PCB had initiated talks with former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson for the head coach role, but the discussions did not materialize.
Regarding these developments, Mohsin Khan stated that there were already rumors circulating in the media, but none of them were confirmed. He emphasized the need for the PCB to secure a foreign coach, considering the challenges involved in convincing overseas coaches to take up the role.
In addition to Kirsten and Langer, the PCB is also considering other potential candidates such as Mike Hesson, Matthew Hayden, Owen Morgan, and Phil Simmons for the head coach position.
It’s worth noting that while former PCB Chairman Zakir Ashraf had advocated for local coaches, Mohsin Khan has expressed a preference for foreign coaches. Convincing foreign coaches to take up the role poses a challenge for the Pakistan Cricket Board, given the competitive landscape and various other factors involved.
The appointment of a new head coach is crucial for Pakistan as they aim to strengthen their coaching setup and improve their performance on the international stage. The head coach will play a pivotal role in strategizing, mentoring, and nurturing the talents within the team to achieve success in various formats of the game.
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s consideration of Gary Kirsten or Justin Langer for the head coach position reflects their commitment to enhancing the coaching setup of the national team. The decision to appoint a foreign coach underscores the PCB’s recognition of the expertise and experience required to guide the team to success. As Pakistan Cricket Board navigates through the challenges of appointing a new head coach, the ultimate goal remains to elevate the performance of the team and bring glory to Pakistani cricket on the global stage.