Pakistan Cricket Board has roped in former New Zealand and Australian wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi for the position of the head coach.
On Wednesday, a PCB source stated that ‘The hunt’ has narrowed down to Ronchi because no well-known coach has expressed interest in working for the PCB because the majority of them are already committed to other leagues or have objections about coaching Pakistani cricket.
Luke Ronchi’s Experience In Pakistan
Luke Ronchi name’s has been well known with the Pakistan Cricket Board due to contributions in Pakistan cricket and of course his coaching credentials.
Luke Ronchi previously played in Pakistan Super League with Islamabad United between 2018 and 2020 where he scored 1020 runs with a batting strike rate of 166.1.
Luke Ronchi retired from internation cricket in June, 2017 and previously coached the New Zealand Cricket Team at the 2019 Cricket World Cup as their wicket-keeping and fielding consultant.
Many sources stated that Luke Ronchi’s deal as the head coach of Pakistan cricket will be finalised within a few days before Pakistan’s home T20 series against the Black Caps.
PCB’s bet on Rochi comes after Watson denied the role
Last week, the Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi has blamed the disclosure of the vital details of a potential coaching agreement with the former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson for the role of head coach, in the media, as a reason for him opting out of the contract.
According to the source, Ronchi has not responded positively and has requested a definite guarantee that he will be assigned a suitable schedule to collaborate with the Pakistani team for an extended period, regardless of the outcome. Ronchi previously turned downed the opportunity to take the role of head coach for the Men in Green due to which it passed down to Grant Bradburn in 2023.
Following Grant Bradburn’s departure from Pakistan at the end of the World Cup last year, PCB has been searching for a new head coach for the men’s national team.
Mohammad Hafeez, a former Pakistani all-rounder, led the squad as their head coach and team director on the tours of Australia and New Zealand. However, he resigned from his role as team director last month, leaving the position open once more.
T20 World Cup Preparations
The hunt comes amid the preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, to be held in the month of June.
The PCB has already begin their training at the Kakul army base, also known for their Military Academy. The training camp began in April, 2024 with Pakistan’s upcoming home series againt New Zealand.
