PCB appoints Shane McDermott as fielding coach

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly appointed Shane McDermott as the men’s fielding coach across all formats. The 44-year-old Australian brings a wealth of experience from both international and domestic cricket coaching roles.

The 44-year-old Australian brings extensive international and domestic coaching experience.

McDermott, a High Performance Level Three certified coach, has previously worked with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Cricket Australia. He also has the backing of Pakistan’s new white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson, with whom he previously collaborated. McDermott is expected to join the squad ahead of the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, with an official PCB announcement anticipated soon.

Pakistan’s fielding has long been a weakness, often proving costly in major tournaments. McDermott’s appointment is a key part of the PCB’s effort to instill greater professionalism and discipline within a restructured coaching group.
His international expertise aims to make Pakistan a more competitive team across all formats, starting with their busy schedule against Bangladesh and West Indies.

Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to retain fielding coach Mohammad Masroor, whose contract was series-to-series, according to sources. The decision was made as part of a backroom overhaul ahead of the team’s upcoming assignments.

Muhammad Masroor, known for his extensive work with Pakistan’s youth teams and his recent stint with the senior side, had been tasked with improving one of Pakistan’s longest-standing weaknesses: fielding and fitness standards.