PCB appoints Michael Smith as Pakistan batting coach

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday appointed former South African cricketer Michael Smith as batting coach of the Pakistan men's team on a two-year contract.

The 46-year-old will work with the national side across both red-ball and white-ball formats and is set to join the squad ahead of the three-Test series against England. His first assignment will be the opening Test, scheduled to begin on August 19 at Headingley in Leeds.

A right-handed batter during his playing career, Smith featured in 89 first-class matches, 72 List A games and 16 T20s in South African domestic cricket between 2003 and 2013. He scored 7,029 runs across formats, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries.

Smith holds a Level 4 coaching qualification and has previously worked with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans. He has also served as batting coach for Australia's Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania, while undertaking consultancy roles with South African domestic teams KZN Inland and Eastern Province.

Pakistan's three-Test series against England will continue with matches at Lord's from August 27 to 31 and Edgbaston from September 9 to 13.