Mohammad Hafeez, Pakistan’s director of cricket, will assume the additional responsibility of serving as the team’s head coach during the upcoming tours of Australia and New Zealand. This decision is part of several significant changes made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup campaign in India.
As per an ESPNcricinfo report, the PCB plans to consolidate the roles of team director and head coach into one position, with Mohammad Hafeez anticipated to take on this combined role to lead the team.
The PCB decided to combine the roles of team director and head coach, as they found little distinction between them. Before Mickey Arthur’s recent appointment by the committee led by Najam Sethi, there wasn’t a director of cricket for the Pakistan cricket team.
The PCB overlooked the need for an additional role within the coaching staff during major tournaments, despite having head coach Grant Bradburn and director Mickey Arthur in the travelling contingent. Although Mohammad Hafeez’s appointment implies changes in responsibilities for Arthur and Bradburn, there hasn’t been an official confirmation. The PCB mentioned that the coaches have been reassigned to the National Cricket Academy.
Additionally, the PCB is actively seeking a new bowling coach and chief selector following the resignations of Morne Morkel and Inzamam-ul-Haq. Rumours suggest that Umar Gul might assume the role of the next bowling coach, considering his interim service in March 2023.
The Pakistani cricket team, led by newly appointed red-ball captain Shan Masood, is set to participate in three Tests in Australia for the World Test Championship (WTC). Meanwhile, the newly appointed T20I captain, Shaheen Afridi, is gearing up for his inaugural task, a five-match T20I series in New Zealand scheduled for January 2024.
Hafeez is undertaking his inaugural coaching role with the Pakistan men’s cricket team
After retiring from all forms of the game in January 2022, Mohammad Hafeez has predominantly worked in broadcasting, frequently offering critical comments about the Pakistan team.
His forthcoming role with the Pakistan cricket team represents his coaching debut, carrying significant responsibility as he leads a new era, commencing with a demanding tour of Australia.
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