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For a while now, there have been reports suggesting that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was deliberating on the possibility of appointing former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as the coach for the Pakistan men’s cricket team.
Urgency in selection: PCB’s quest for a permanent head coach
The Pakistan cricket team has been operating without a head coach for a considerable duration, prompting the cricket board to expedite the selection process ahead of the imminent five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Emphasizing the need for a permanent appointment, the PCB wanted to depart from the temporary arrangement seen with the previous head coach, Mohammad Hafeez, who briefly joined the team during the tour of New Zealand and Australia.
Shane Watson emerges as a potential candidate for Pakistan’s coaching role
Watson, celebrated for his versatile skills on the cricket pitch, had entered into in-depth discussions concerning the prospect of taking on the position of Pakistan’s limited-overs coach. His notable performance as the coach of Quetta Gladiators during the recent Pakistan Super League (PSL) season had attracted significant attention, sparking speculation regarding his potential selection as Pakistan’s head coach.
Also READ: Pakistan Cricket Board announces schedule for the home T20I series against New Zealand
Watson’s ultimate judgement
However, Watson now has decisively opted out of the running for the position of Pakistan’s head coach, despite initially emerging as the preferred choice of the PCB.
As per an ESPNcricinfo report, Watson’s decision to reject the offer arises from his commitment to fulfil his existing coaching and commentary responsibilities. Presently, Watson is serving as the head coach for the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket and will actively engaged in commentary duties for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Moreover, Watson’s familial responsibilities and residence in Sydney were significant factors influencing his decision to prioritize his current engagements over the potential coaching position with Pakistan. The report indicated that the rapid developments regarding the PCB’s interest in Watson meant that accepting the offer would have required him to abruptly withdraw from his other commitments, which ultimately led to his withdrawal.
Watson’s impact as coach of Quetta Gladiators
Watson assumed the role of head coach for Quetta in the latter part of the previous year. Having previously secured a title with Gladiators as a player in 2019, his transition to a coaching role marked a significant shift. Notably, he played a pivotal role in instigating changes within the team hierarchy during his inaugural season as coach.
One of the most prominent alterations was the replacement of long-standing captain Sarfaraz Ahmed with South Africa‘s Rilee Rossouw. Under Watson’s guidance, Gladiators exhibited a strong start to the season, culminating in their qualification for the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. Nevertheless, despite their initial success, the team faced a downturn in performance towards the later stages of the tournament, ultimately resulting in their elimination.
