Shane McDermott Joins PCB as Fielding Coach
In a major move to strengthen its fielding department, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Shane McDermott as the new all-format fielding coach of the national team. The 44-year-old Australian will join the squad ahead of the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan’s coaching structure.
McDermott brings with him a High Performance Level Three Coaching Certificate and a wealth of international experience, having worked with Cricket Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and various domestic teams including Western Australia and Cricket Tasmania.
Global Experience to Boost Pakistan’s Fielding
McDermott’s appointment comes highly recommended by Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s newly appointed white-ball head coach. The Australian coach has previously served as:
- Fielding coach for Sri Lanka’s senior and A teams
- Assistant fielding coach for Bangladesh (2022–2023)
- Fielding consultant for Afghanistan during their 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final run
- Coach and analyst at Cricket Australia’s National Cricket Centre (2012–2019)
His diverse background is expected to bring technical precision and modern fielding drills to a Pakistan side that has long struggled with consistency in the field.
Masroor Departs, Luden Returns
McDermott replaces Mohammad Masroor, who served as fielding coach on a series-to-series basis. Masroor confirmed his departure with an emotional message on social media, thanking players, staff, and fans for their support.
In another key development, Grant Luden returns as strength and conditioning coach. Luden is a familiar face in Pakistan cricket, having previously worked with the team in various fitness roles.
Coaching Reshuffle Continues
The PCB’s coaching overhaul also includes the appointment of Azhar Mahmood as acting Test head coach, and reports suggest that Salman Agha is likely to be named all-format captain, replacing Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan in leadership roles.
With the Asia Cup 2025 and a packed international calendar ahead, these changes reflect PCB’s intent to modernize its support staff and improve performance across formats.
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