Former Australia captain named new head coach ahead of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026
The former captain of the Australian cricket team has been named the new head coach for this franchise ahead of the 2026 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which is scheduled to take place on March 26.
The former Australia captain, Tim Paine, who has been the assistant coach at the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL) and has led a Prime Minister’s XI against India and England in the last two winters, has joined a new side in the coaching position ahead of the 2026 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which is going to begin on March 26.
Paine was the captain of 23 Tests between 2018 and 2020, winning 11 and losing eight. He stepped down in November 2021 after an investigation into historical messages with a colleague and never played for the Australia side again. The wicket-keeper batter played state cricket in the 2022-23 season, before retiring at the end of the campaign.
Pain has smashed an overall 1647 runs in 75 innings of the shortest format at an average of 22.87 and a strike rate of 122.27, with the help of 10 half-centuries at the best score of 91. His last competitive game came last year for the Australian champions against the Indian champions.
Tim Paine appointed Sialkot head coach in PSL 2026
Paine will have to build their squad from scratch at the PSL’s first auction on February 11 before leading the side in the new season. Sialkot is one of the two sides, alongside a Hyderabad-named franchise, for the upcoming edition. His appointment follows Jason Gillespie being named Hyderabad coach and Luke Rochi taking over at Islamabad United.
Gillespie’s appointment comes two weeks out from the PSL auction. The appointment will be his first involvement in coaching in Pakistan since an acrimonious falling out with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), leading to him quitting as their red-ball coach days before the start of the Protea series.
“Vision clear. Direction locked. Entering a new era. Jason Gillespie takes charge as head coach of Hyderabad in the HBL PSL. Welcome to the family, coach.” The account for the Kingsmen Cricket, part of the ownership group of the Hyderabad franchise, has posted on X (formerly known as Twitter.
Tags:
