Shane McDermott to be Pak fielding coach

Shane McDermott has backing of Pakistan’s newly appointed white-ball head coach Mike Hesson who has lot of faith in the Aussie coach. PHOTO: REUTERS

The Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly completed the signing of respected Australian fielding specialist Shane McDermott as the men's all-format fielding coach.

The 44-year-old McDermott was one of two finalists for the job and arrives with a broad résumé across international and domestic cricket. He holds a High Performance Level Three Coaching Certificate and has previously contributed to setups in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and his native Australia.

Shane McDermott also reportedly had the backing of Pakistan's newly appointed white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who worked closely with him during previous assignments. He is expected to link up with the squad ahead of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.

An official announcement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely later this week.

Between 2022 and 2023, Shane McDermott served as Assistant Fielding Coach with Bangladesh's national team and earlier spent three years as Sri Lanka's senior team fielding coach while also leading the Sri Lanka A program. Most recently, the Australian worked with Afghanistan.

His earlier coaching experience includes seven years with Cricket Australia's National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, where he held positions ranging from Interim Assistant Coach to National A Team Analyst and Fielding Coach.

According to sources, his appointment come as Mohammad Masroor departs from his role as the fielding coach. Masroor, who was hired on a series-to-series basis, confirmed his exit through a heartfelt message on social media.

"Thank you to the players who trusted the staff who supported, and the fans who believed," he wrote.

"Though my chapter with the team ends here, I'll always be a part of Pakistan cricket's story. Thank you, Pakistan. I leave with no regrets, only pride and best wishes for what lies ahead," he further wrote.

Masroor, 49, had previously worked with Pakistan's Under-19 and domestic teams, and was viewed as a progressive coach with modern fielding insights. However, despite his efforts, Pakistan's fielding continued to disappoint in key matches, including in World Cups and the Asia Cup.

The PCB has struggled for years to find consistency in this department, having rotated through several fielding coaches without significant improvement.

Masroor's exit comes at a critical time with Asia Cup 2025 fast approaching. Scheduled to be held in India, the high-profile tournament will see Pakistan face stiff competition against arch-rivals India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and possibly Afghanistan.

Umar Gul set for key role with PCB

Former Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul is expected to take up a major role in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) setup as part of the board's wider plans to restructure its coaching and development departments.

According to sources, Gul is likely to be named head coach of the Pakistan Shaheens, who have a packed schedule ahead. The team is set to participate in the Top End T20 Series in Darwin next month, followed by a tour of England later this year.

The 42-year-old retired from international cricket in 2020 and has since built a strong coaching resume. He has previously served as the bowling coach of Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Afghanistan's national team, and Pakistan's senior men's side.

Gul stepped in as Pakistan's bowling coach after Morne Morkel's departure and worked with the national team during the Test series against Australia in late 2023 and the T20I series against New Zealand in early 2024. He also held the same role during Pakistan's 2023 T20I series against Afghanistan and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the PCB has announced that Pakistan Shaheens will return to Darwin for the 2025 Top End T20 Series, marking their third straight appearance in the tournament. The event will run from August 14 to 24, with the Shaheens facing Bangladesh 'A' in the opening match at TIO Stadium.

The 2025 edition will feature 11 teams playing 36 T20 matches across five venues: DXC Arena, TIO Stadium, Gardens Oval, Cazaly's Arena, and Freds Pass. More details about the tournament are expected to be announced soon.

In previous editions, the Shaheens have performed well, reaching the final in 2023 and the semi-final in 2024. Their campaign included notable wins against teams like Perth Scorchers, Tasmania, Melbourne Renegades, and Bangladesh 'A'. However, their run ended in the semi-finals after a loss to Adelaide Strikers.

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