PCB in Talks With Shaun Tait, Martin Guptill for Coaching Roles

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in talks with two well known foreign cricketers to join the national team's coaching staff, according to reports on Monday, September 28, 2026. Former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait is being considered as a bowling consultant. Former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill is in discussions for a fielding consultant role. The PCB has not made any official announcement so far.

The news comes at a hard time for Pakistan cricket. The team has lost several coaches in recent months. Now the board is trying to fill the empty seats before a busy season of cricket.

Why the PCB Needs New Coaches

The biggest gap opened last week when Ashley Noffke resigned as Pakistan's bowling coach. The former Australian pacer has signed a two year contract to become head coach of the Netherlands. His Pakistan contract was meant to run until June 2027, so his exit came well before time.

Noffke joined Pakistan in May 2025 as part of the white ball setup under head coach Mike Hesson. He was also asked to help the Test team during this year's tour of England. His final job with Pakistan is the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, where the men's team enters at the quarter final stage on September 28.

Noffke is not the only one who has left. Fielding coach Shane McDermott departed in July 2026. Earlier this year, white ball batting coach Hanif Malik and physiotherapist Cliffe Deacon also stepped down after the home ODI series against Australia. The PCB also removed red ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul after back to back Test defeats in England.

The board has already advertised the bowling coach job after Noffke's exit. The advertisement for the fielding coach job came out a few weeks before that.

Shaun Tait: A Familiar Face

Shaun Tait knows the Pakistan dressing room well. The PCB first appointed him as bowling coach in February 2022, just before Australia's first tour of Pakistan since 1998. He stayed with the team until early 2023, when his contract was not renewed.

As a player, Tait was one of the fastest bowlers in the world. He was part of the Australian team that won the 2007 World Cup without losing a single match, and he took 23 wickets in that tournament. He played 35 ODIs, 21 T20 internationals and three Tests for Australia. In 2010, he bowled a ball at Lord's that was clocked at 161.1 kilometres per hour, one of the fastest ever recorded.

Tait has also coached Afghanistan and worked in the Bangladesh Premier League with Chittagong Kings. In May 2025, he became Bangladesh's fast bowling coach on a contract that was due to run until November 2027. But he resigned in June 2026 after about 12 months. He said his young family needed more of his time, and that a year of full time work in both red ball and white ball cricket had been enough.

Why a Consultant and Not a Full Time Coach

That family decision is the main reason the PCB is looking at Tait as a consultant and not as a permanent coach. He cannot commit to travelling with a team all year across Tests, ODIs and T20s. A consultant usually works with players for fixed periods, such as training camps or selected series. The exact terms of any possible deal have not been made public.

For Pakistani fans, Tait's time in Bangladesh brings back painful memories. Under his guidance, Bangladesh's pacers grew into match winners. Bangladesh won a Test series against Pakistan by two matches to nil during his time there. Young fast bowler Nahid Rana also took five wickets against Pakistan in an ODI in March this year, and he has given Tait credit for building his confidence.

Martin Guptill: A First Coaching Job

Martin Guptill's case is very different. The New Zealand opener has never worked as a professional coach. If a deal is signed, Pakistan would be his first coaching job. He still plays in T20 leagues around the world.

Guptill confirmed his retirement from international cricket in January 2025. He scored 7,346 runs in 198 ODIs, which is the third highest total for New Zealand. He is still New Zealand's top run scorer in T20 internationals, with 3,531 runs in 122 matches. His unbeaten 237 against the West Indies at the 2015 World Cup remains the highest score in World Cup history.

He was also known as one of the sharpest fielders of his time. Many fans still remember his direct hit that ran out MS Dhoni in the 2019 World Cup semi final. Pakistani fans also know him from the Pakistan Super League, where he played for Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United.

There is another link. Mike Hesson, now Pakistan's white ball head coach, was New Zealand's head coach during Guptill's best years. Back then, Hesson described Guptill as the player who led New Zealand's fielding in white ball cricket. Reports say talks with Guptill are moving forward and there is a strong chance of a deal, but nothing has been signed yet.

What This Means for Pakistan

Fielding has been a weak area for Pakistan for many years. Dropped catches and slow work on the ground have cost the team close matches in big events. A fielder of Guptill's level could give young players a clear example to follow, both in training and in fitness.

Fast bowling has always been Pakistan's biggest strength. Yet the results have not always matched the talent in recent years. Tait already knows many of the players and the system, which could make it easier for him to start work quickly if he returns.

Still, the frequent changes in the coaching staff are a real concern. Players have had to adjust to new faces and new ideas again and again. Consultants can fill gaps fast, but they are not the same as a settled coaching team that stays for years.

For now, both deals are unconfirmed and the PCB has given no timeline. Fans will be watching closely to see whether these two big names really join Pakistan, and whether they can help the team turn talent into results.