According to reports, the PCB had agreed to pay Shane Watson an annual fee of USD $2 million.
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson and former West Indian captain Darren Sammy have withdrawn from consideration to lead the national team, posing a challenge to Pakistan’s search for a foreign head coach. Watson declined the offer from the Pakistan board on Saturday night, but Sammy accepted offers from the PCB, stating that he already had a contract with the West Indies board to coach the WI white-ball teams.
According to an informed source who was aware of the situation, Watson was offered the head coach role after in-depth discussions that senior PCB officials had with him in Karachi during the PSL matches.
The insider stated, “Watson had initially expressed interest and maintained certain financial and other conditions to accept the offer.”
“But after the board more or less accepted Watson’s financial demands the Australian was not happy that details of the proposed package were leaked out in the Pakistan media and social media.”
Subsequently, the Australian graciously declined the offer, stating that he wanted to spend more time with his young family in Sydney and that he had previous obligations as a commentator in the top USA league and the Indian Premier League.
According to reports, the PCB had given Watson an annual fee of USD $2 million.
In front of the home five-match T20 series against New Zealand starting on April 14 in Lahore and Rawalpindi, PCB is now anticipated to opt for an interim arrangement in which the national team would oversee the training camp in Kakul from March 25 to April 8.
“A team of local coaches as an interim arrangement for the camp and NZ series is the only available option for the PCB now and Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will be required to make a call after the PSL final on 18th March,” a person familiar with the matter stated.
Naqvi has stated that he wishes to recruit foreign coaches for the national team on a long-term basis, spanning the World T20 Cup in the West Indies and the United States, as well as the Champions Trophy in Pakistan early next year.
According to the source, former Pakistan captains Younis Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Inzamam ul Haq, and Moin Khan are also being considered at this moment.
