Pakistan Appoint Mike Smith as Test Batting Coach Amid Batting Crisis

Mumbai, Aug 2026 : Pakistan have appointed former South African first-class cricketer and Level 4-qualified coach Mike Smith as the new batting coach of their Test team, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seeks to address the side’s prolonged struggles with the bat.

Smith is set to replace former Pakistan Test batter Asad Shafiq, with the PCB expected to formally announce the appointment ahead of the national team’s upcoming Test series against England.

According to a report by Telecom Asia Sport, Smith applied for the position after the PCB advertised the post and is expected to join the team during Pakistan’s tour of England. His appointment comes at a crucial time, with Pakistan’s batting performances in Test cricket facing increasing scrutiny.

Smith brings previous experience of working in Pakistan, having served with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans. His familiarity with the country’s domestic cricket environment is expected to help him adapt quickly to the national setup.

Shafiq’s tenure as batting coach came under criticism because of the multiple responsibilities he was handling within the PCB. Besides working with the Test team, he was reportedly involved with both the men’s and women’s selection committees and also served as head of the PCB academy in Karachi.

Sources cited in the report suggested that handling several roles simultaneously affected his effectiveness as batting coach.

The PCB has also witnessed considerable instability in the batting coach position in recent years. Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Andrew Puttick and Shafiq have all held the role over the last three years, reflecting frequent changes in Pakistan’s team management.

The report also claimed that the PCB received only a limited number of applications for the position, with uncertainty over the longevity of coaching appointments in Pakistan reportedly discouraging several overseas candidates.

Smith’s immediate challenge will be to improve a Pakistan batting unit that has struggled particularly in overseas Test matches. The team has lost eight consecutive Tests abroad, reportedly its longest such losing streak in history.

Pakistan’s recent difficulties were highlighted in their first Test against the West Indies at Tarouba. Chasing only 211 runs for victory, Pakistan failed to complete the chase, leaving them facing the prospect of losing their first Test series against the West Indies in 26 years.

The appointment of Smith therefore comes at a critical juncture for Pakistan cricket. With the England series approaching, the new batting coach will have limited time to work with the players and identify solutions to the team’s recurring problems.

Pakistan will hope that Smith’s experience, coaching qualifications and familiarity with the country’s cricketing environment can help restore confidence and consistency to the Test batting lineup. The England assignment will provide an early and demanding test of whether the PCB’s latest coaching change can deliver the desired results.