Pakistan Fielding Coach: The Vacant Hot Seat & Its History
Dropped catches lose matches — and Pakistan’s fielding coach chair is empty. After Shane McDermott’s July 2026 exit, the PCB took the extraordinary step of advertising the job on LinkedIn. Here’s the role, its history, and who might take it.
Quick answer: Pakistan’s fielding coach post is vacant — Shane McDermott resigned in July 2026 (joining Afghanistan) and the PCB advertised the role on LinkedIn in August 2026. Martin Guptill is reportedly being considered. Requirements: Level 2 certification and 5+ years’ elite coaching experience.
In this guide
The Role
The fielding coach owns catching, throwing, ground fielding, movement, fitness and overall field presence — across red-ball and white-ball formats. In modern cricket, where 10–15 runs saved can decide a T20, it’s a specialist science, not an afterthought.
The Holders
- Steve Rixon (2016–18) — the gold standard; Pakistan’s fielding visibly improved under the Australian.
- Grant Bradburn — held the role before becoming head coach in 2023.
- Aftab Khan, Abdul Majeed, Mohammad Masroor — various stints 2020–25.
- Shane McDermott (2025–26) — all-format fielding coach for about a year; resigned July 2026.
The Vacancy
McDermott’s exit — mid-crisis, with the England series lost — forced the PCB to advertise publicly on LinkedIn in August 2026, a move that went viral among fans. The spec: Level 2 coaching certification and minimum five years’ experience with elite or national teams. Reports in late September 2026 say the board is discussing former New Zealand great Martin Guptill — renowned for his athletic fielding — for the role, which would be his first coaching stint.
More: coaches guide · bowling coach · 2026 staff.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pakistan’s fielding coach?
The post is vacant as of October 2026 — Shane McDermott resigned in July 2026. Martin Guptill is reportedly being considered.
Why did the PCB advertise the fielding coach job on LinkedIn?
After McDermott’s sudden resignation during the England tour crisis, the PCB posted the vacancy publicly in August 2026; the “we are hiring” post went viral.
What are the requirements for Pakistan’s fielding coach?
At least a Level 2 coaching certification and a minimum of five years’ coaching experience, preferably with elite, national or international teams.
