PCB to seek foreign coach for Pakistan women's team after poor results

Pakistan are set to appoint a foreign head coach for their women's cricket team after a string of disappointing results under Wahab Riaz. The PCB wants the new coach to lead preparations for the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally decided to look for a foreign coach for its national women's team after persisting with former Test pacer Wahab Riaz despite a string of disappointing results.

A reliable source in the board said on Friday that the PCB would soon advertise the post of head coach of the women's team, with preference likely to be given to a foreign candidate.

"The appointment will be made before the women's team's next international assignment which is a tour of the West Indies," the source said.

Wahab has been mentoring the women's team since last December after head coach Muhammad Wasim was removed in November following the team's disappointing campaign in the ICC Women's 50-over World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

However, the team has failed to improve its performances under Wahab, enduring another disappointing outing in the recent Women's T20 World Cup and bilateral series in Sri Lanka.

The source said the decision to appoint a foreign coach was also driven by Pakistan's preparations for the 2028 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, which the country will host. The PCB is keen to give the new head coach sufficient time to build a competitive side for the marquee event.

The PCB has frequently changed the head coaches of its women's team, with some of its best performances coming under foreign coaches David Hemp and, notably, Mark Coles.

Coles first coached the side between 2017 and 2019 before returning for a brief stint in 2023.

The women's team has had at least six different head coaches since 2020.