Unhappiness Over Salary Details Leaked to Media, IPL Commitment: Why Shane Watson Turned Down Offer to Coach Pakistan

Australia legend Shane Watson recently dropped out from the race to become the next Pakistan men’s team head coach despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly meeting his salary demands.

Besides Watson, West Indies legend Daren Sammy was also among the candidates PCB were considering for the role but the two-time world cup winning captain also opted out since he’s already contracted to the West Indies board.

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According to a report in news agency PTI, the PCB held discussions with Watson during the PSL 2024 Watson was contracted to Quetta Gladiators as their head coach.

“Watson had initially shown interest and kept certain financial and other conditions to accept the offer,” a source was quoted as saying.

PCB accepted Watson’s financial demands but the Australian reportedly wasn’t happy with the pay package details being leaked to the Pakistan media.

The PCB reportedly agreed to a USD 2 million dollar annual remuneration for Watson.

“But after the board more or less accepted Watson’s financial demands the Australian was not happy that details of the proposed package were leaked out in the Pakistan media and social media,” the source said.

Watson then turned down the offer citing prior commitments as a commentator in IPL and also in the major USA league besides wanting to give more time to his young family in Sydney.

PCB will now go for an interim arrangement for the national team to supervise the training camp in Kakul from March 25 to April 8 ahead of the home five-match T20 series against New Zealand from April 14 in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

“A team of local coaches as an interim arrangement for the camp and NZ series is the only available option for the PCB now and Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will be required to make a call after the PSL final on 18th March,” the source said.

Naqvi has made it clear that he is keen on appointing foreign coaches for the national team on a long term basis, covering the World T20 Cup in West Indies and USA and Champions Trophy early next year in Pakistan.

The source said that former Pakistan captains, Younis Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Inzamam ul Haq, Moin Khan were also under consideration for the time being.

With PTI Inputs