Pakistan set to appoint Michael Smith coach as batting collapses continue to haunt Test side

Pakistan is set to appoint South African cricketer and coach Michael Smith as their new batting coach, with the deal reportedly in final stages.

Smith is expected to join the team for Pakistan's three-Test tour of England starting August 19.

He holds a Level 4 coaching qualification and has previously worked in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as batting coach of Islamabad United and assistant coach of Multan Sultans.

Smith will oversee batting across both red-ball and white-ball setups, filling a role that has been vacant, with national selector Asad Shafiq having occasionally filled in.

The appointment follows Pakistan's batting collapses in the West Indies series, including losing seven wickets for 38 runs in the first Test, and the team has lost 13 of their recent Test matches.