Darren Sammy turns down PCB offer to coach Pakistan

Staff Report

 LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) efforts to appoint a foreign coach for the men’s cricket team hit another setback after former West Indies skipper Darren Sammy turned down the board’s offer for the top post. Sammy’s — who is also Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi’s head coach — refusal comes as he has an existing contract with the West Indies board wherein he is serving as the side’s head coach in one-day internationals (ODIs) and T20Is. The development comes as the PCB’s earlier bid to rope in former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as the national side’s head coach failed to materialise as the ex-cricketer — who is also the coach of Quetta Gladiators —  returned home on Saturday night after rejecting the offer extended by the board. Watson, according to sources familiar with the matter, has held detailed discussions with PCB officials in Karachi during the ongoing PSL, wherein the latter had offered him the head-coach post. The ex-cricketer had initially expressed interest and had even chalked out his conditions for accepting the offer. However, despite a reported offer of $2 million, Watson later declined the offer owing to the leak of information pertaining to the PCB’s proposed package to the media, the sources added. The former all-rounder also cited his willingness to honour his current coaching and commentary commitments including an Indian Premier League (IPL) commentary stint and as the head coach of Major League Cricket side San Francisco Unicorns. With both Sammy and Watson out of the race, the PCB might consider an interim arrangement for the national team’s supervision during the training camp in Kakul from March 25 to April 8, preceding the five-match T20 series against New Zealand starting from April 14 in Lahore and Rawalpindi.