Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has declined a substantial offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Despite PCB's desire for Watson to lead as the head coach for Pakistan’s limited-overs cricket, reports from Pakistani media claim that PCB had proposed an annual $2 million (approximately 16.57 crore rupees) salary to Watson.
Watson's IPL Commentary Deal
Had Watson accepted the Pakistani coaching role, it would have required him to step away from other engagements. It’s worth mentioning that Watson already has a commentary deal in place for the Indian Premier League (IPL). He is set to commentate during the upcoming IPL season, choosing to honor his current commitments. Watson is also affiliated with the Quetta Gladiators and San Francisco Unicorns as a coach.
In April, Pakistan is scheduled to play a five-match T20 series against New Zealand, followed by T20 games against England and participation in the T20 World Cup. Watson had been the subject of speculation over the past week, as it was believed he gave serious consideration to the offer during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and seemed excited about the prospect of working with the Pakistani players.
Source: aajtak
Shane Watson was appointed head coach of the Quetta Gladiators late last year. He had won the PSL title as a player with the Gladiators in 2019. The Gladiators had a strong start in PSL 2024, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time, but lost momentum and fell to Islamabad United on Friday.
Watson's Remarkable International Record
At 42, Shane Watson played 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, and 58 T20 Internationals for Australia. He has scored 3731 runs in Test matches and 5757 in ODIs. In T20 Internationals, he tallied up 1462 runs. Watson also has taken 75 wickets in Tests, 168 in ODIs, and 48 in T20 Internationals. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has represented teams such as Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Rajasthan Royals (RR).
