Pakistan Cricket Batting Coach: The Complete Guide
Who holds the job, why Pakistan finally appointed a specialist, the collapse that forced the PCB’s hand — and the full coaching setup around him.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
Quick answer: Pakistan’s batting coach is Michael “Mike” Smith, a 46-year-old South African appointed in August 2026 on a two-year contract covering red-ball and white-ball cricket. A Level 4-qualified coach with PSL experience (Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans), he was hired after months without a specialist — and after Pakistan’s batting collapsed to lose the Tarouba Test to West Indies. He works under head coach Mike Hesson, alongside bowling coach Shaun Tait and fielding coach Mansoor Amjad.
The man
The Current Batting Coach: Mike Smith
A South African specialist with deep Pakistan connections — and the toughest batting repair job in world cricket.
Playing career
Smith never played international cricket, but his first-class record is solid: 89 matches between 2003 and 2013, 4,867 runs at 33.10 with nine centuries. A right-handed batter who ground out runs in South Africa’s domestic circuit — the classic coach’s background.
Pakistan experience
He knows Pakistan’s players already: coaching stints with Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans in the PSL (assistant coach at Multan in 2026), plus Hobart Hurricanes and Tasmania in Australia’s Big Bash. The PCB cited this familiarity as a key factor.
The contract
Appointed in August 2026 on a two-year deal covering both red-ball and white-ball teams — a scope that signals the PCB wants one philosophy across formats. His first assignment was the three-Test tour of England starting 19 August at Headingley.
The crisis
Why the PCB Finally Appointed One
Pakistan went months without a designated batting coach. Then came Tarouba.
The game that forced the hire
In the West Indies, Pakistan threw away a position of total control: from 244 for 3, they lost their last seven first-innings wickets for 38 runs — then were rolled for 120 chasing 211, losing the Test. It was the extreme version of a pattern: Pakistan had lost 13 of their last 17 Tests, with collapses under pressure the recurring cause.
A tail that can’t bat
Since the start of 2025, Pakistan’s last four wickets have averaged 9.91 runs per wicket — the worst of any Test nation. Meanwhile their bowlers have conceded 27.02 per wicket to opposition tails since May 2024 — also the worst. That 17-run-per-wicket swing at the bottom of the order is where Tests are being lost. A specialist batting coach for the lower order alone would be justified.
The role
What a Batting Coach Actually Does
More than throwdowns: the modern batting coach is a technician, tactician and psychologist.
Technique
Grooving trigger movements, head position and bat path in the nets; using video analysis to spot flaws — the visible part of the job, and the smallest.
Game plans
Preparing batters for specific bowlers and conditions: England’s Dukes-ball swing for the Headingley series, Sri Lanka’s spin for November’s home Tests. Match-ups, fields, scoring zones.
Temperament
Pakistan’s collapses are as much mental as technical — losing 7 for 38 is a mindset failure. Building routines for pressure moments, and crucially, coaching the tail to contribute the 20s and 30s that turn defeats into draws.
The team
The Full Pakistan Coaching Staff (October 2026)
As named by the PCB for the Sri Lanka T20I series and ODI tri-series.
| Role | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Mike Hesson | In role since May 2025 |
| Batting coach | Michael Smith | Appointed Aug 2026, two-year contract |
| Bowling coach | Shaun Tait | Appointed Oct 2026; replaced Ashley Noffke |
| Fielding coach | Mansoor Amjad | Specialist fielding role |
| Manager | Naveed Akram Cheema | Team manager |
| Strength & conditioning | Grant Luden | Fitness lead |
Tait — the former Australian tearaway — previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach from March 2022 to January 2023, so his October 2026 return is a reunion. Noffke left after 16 months to become Netherlands’ head coach. For the fielding setup specifically, see our fielding coach guide.
The revolving door
Recent History of the Role
Pakistan’s batting coach position has been a revolving door — Smith is meant to stop it spinning.
Hanif Malik
Malik held batting-coach duties before being released after the T20 World Cup, leaving the role vacant.
Asad Shafiq
National selector Asad Shafiq stepped in as interim batting coach for tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies — including the Tarouba debacle — before returning to selection duties.
Mike Smith
The PCB advertised the role publicly (applications closed 7 June 2026), shortlisted candidates, and handed Smith a two-year contract — the first long-term batting-coach appointment in years.
Pakistan’s wider coaching history — Gary Kirsten, Jason Gillespie, Steve Rixon, Dav Whatmore among the foreign names — is littered with premature endings and PCB conflicts. Smith’s two-year deal is the board betting that stability, not another short-term fix, is what the batting needs. His Test-era report card starts with the England tour and continues into the home series against Sri Lanka this November.
Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions fans ask most about Pakistan’s batting coach.
Who is Pakistan’s current batting coach?
Michael “Mike” Smith, a 46-year-old South African, appointed in August 2026 on a two-year contract covering red-ball and white-ball cricket.
Why did Pakistan appoint a new batting coach?
After months without a specialist and a string of batting collapses — notably losing the Tarouba Test to West Indies from 244/3 — the PCB advertised the role and appointed Smith to fix the team’s chronic collapses.
Who was Pakistan’s batting coach before Mike Smith?
Hanif Malik held the role before being released after the T20 World Cup; national selector Asad Shafiq then served as interim batting coach.
Who is Pakistan’s head coach in 2026?
Mike Hesson (head coach since May 2025). The support staff includes Shaun Tait (bowling coach, from Oct 2026) and Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach).
What is Mike Smith’s coaching background?
A Level 4-qualified coach with PSL experience (Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans), plus Hobart Hurricanes and Tasmania in Australia. As a player: 89 first-class matches, 4,867 runs at 33.10.
Who is Pakistan’s fielding coach?
Mansoor Amjad. See our dedicated fielding coach guide.
Go deeper
Detailed Guides
Each question answered in full.
Pakistan Batting Coach: Mike Smith’s Mission to Fix the Collapse
The man, the mandate, and the numbers he’s been hired to change.
Pakistan Cricket Batting Coach: Role, History & Why It Matters
What the job involves and why Pakistan kept leaving it empty.
Fielding Coach of Pakistan Cricket Team: Mansoor Amjad’s Brief
The other specialist role — and why fielding wins tournaments.
Follow Pakistan Cricket
Coaching news, series previews and results — our Pakistan Sports section follows the national team everywhere.
Coaching staff details reflect PCB announcements as of 11 October 2026. Support-staff roles change frequently in Pakistan cricket — this guide will be updated with each appointment.