Pakistan’s search for a foreign coach has hit a snag with former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson and ex-West Indies captain Darren Sammy withdrawing from the race to be the next head coach of the national team. While Sammy turned down the PCB’s offer on the grounds that he had already signed a contract with the West Indies board as the head coach of the Wisconsin white-ball team, Watson returned home on Saturday night after rejecting the Pakistan board’s offer.

A source close to the development said senior PCB officials held detailed talks with Watson in Karachi during the PSL tournament and offered him the head coaching position.

“Watson initially showed interest and retained certain financial and other conditions to accept the offer,” the source said.

“But after the board more or less accepted Watson’s financial demands, Australians were unhappy that details of the proposed package were leaked to Pakistani media and social media.”

The Australian then politely declined the offer, insisting that as well as wanting to give more time to his young family in Sydney, he also worked as a commentator in the IPL and MLS.

PCB has reportedly agreed to pay Watson an annual fee of US$2 million.

The PCB is now expected to make interim arrangements for the national team to oversee a training camp in Kakul from March 25 to April 8 before home matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi on April 14 Five-match T20 series in New Zealand.

“The only option available to the PCB at the moment is a team of local coaches as an interim arrangement for the training camp and New Zealand series and chairman Mohsin Naqvi will need to take a decision after the PSL final on March 18,” sources said.

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

Sources said former Pakistan captain Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan are also being considered.

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