After an embarrassing T20I series loss to Afghanistan, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to hire new coaching staff. Former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel and former Proteas batter Andrew Puttick have been roped in as bowling and batting coach respectively. In addition, Pakistan cricket team’s former head coach Mickey Arthur is set to join the side as a consultant.
This will not be Morkel's first coaching job. He was a part of Namibia coaching staff during T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. He also had stints with SA20 League side Durban Super Giants and New Zealand women's team during T20 World Cup earlier this year. The 38-year-old will join the Pakistan side after the completion of Indian Premier League (IPL) where he is a part of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) coaching staff.
Morkel made his international debut for South Africa in 2006 against India in a Test. He made his last international appearance against Australia. He has a total of 544 international wickets including 309 in Tests, 188 in ODIs and 47 in T20Is.
On the other hand, Puttick will join Pakistan squad in April. He has played only one ODI for South Africa where he got out for a duck against New Zealand. The 42-year-old has served as batting consultant for South Africa men's team. In women's T20 World Cup 2023, he was batting coach of the Sune Luus-led side which reached the final for the first time. The 42-year-old was involved with South Africa A's tour of India in 2019 as assistant coach. He has more than 18,000 runs under his belt in domestic cricket (including List A, first-class and T20s).
Arthur will not travel with the team like other members of the coaching staff. He will work remotely. However, he is set to visit the preparation camp for ODI World Cup in Lahore next month. This is a result of his full-time commitment to Derbyshire.
Since Saqlain Mushtaq and Shaun Tait's contracts were not renewed, Pakistan have played just one T20I series against Afghanistan where Shadab Khan-led a second string side in the absence of captain Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman. The coaching staff has their work cut out when Pakistan host New Zealand for five T20Is and as many ODIs starting April 14.
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