KARACHI: Former New Zealand cricketer Luke Ronchi has been approached by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the role of head coach, according to sources.
Current New Zealand batting coach Ronchi has asked for some time to reach a decision, sources added.
Ronchi rejected PCB’s offer last year, after which Grant Bradburn was appointed.
Ronchi achieved the rare feat of representing New Zealand, the country of his birth, and Australia.
The 42-year-old has appeared in four Tests, 85 ODIs and 33 T20Is after making his limited-overs debut for Australia in 2008.
In league cricket, he played for Guyana Amazon Warriors, Islamabad United, Mumbai Indian and Perth Scorchers.
The development comes after Shane Watson, Mike Hesson and Darren Sammy refused to coach the Pakistan team.
Watson wants to honor his current coaching and commentary commitments rather than abandon them at short notice.
Along with coaching the Quetta Gladiators, Watson’s commitments include commentary in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and being the head coach of Major League Cricket’s San Francisco Unicorns. The fact that he has a young family also played a role in his decision.
Meanwhile, Sammy rejected approaches from the PCB citing his existing contract with the West Indies board as the head coach of the white-ball teams.
Also read: Pakistan vs Australia T20I, ODI series schedule announced
Mohsin Naqvi led PCB is keen to appoint a strong coaching team for the cricket team.
To fill the vacancy in time for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand at home, the PCB is also considering the possibility of appointing local coaches along with foreign consultants.
The five-match T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand will begin from April 18.
It should be noted that Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn and Andrew Puttick, who were transferred to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore after their portfolios were changed in November 2023, left their positions in January this year.
In April 2023, Arthur was appointed as the director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, while Bradburn was appointed as the head coach of the Pakistan men’s national team earlier last year. A former South African cricketer, Puttick worked as a batting coach from April 2023.
According to the PCB, the decision was taken amicably between all parties involved.
