The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took a significant step on Saturday by announcing separate job openings for head coaches specializing in the red-ball and white-ball formats of cricket.

This decision comes with a crucial T20I season looming, featuring T20I series against New Zealand, Ireland, and England before the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

In its pursuit of top-tier coaching talent, the PCB has set rigorous criteria for potential candidates. Applicants must boast a minimum of five years of coaching experience at the international, domestic, or franchise level, along with completion of a mandatory Level Two coaching course. Preference is given to candidates with Level Three or higher qualifications and strong proficiency in English communication.

The application deadline is April 15th, welcoming submissions from both Pakistani and international coaches.

According to sources, the board is in advanced discussions with two esteemed foreign coaches, Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie, for distinct coaching roles spanning different cricket formats. This represents a shift from the traditional approach of appointing a single head coach.

Under the proposed arrangement, Kirsten is poised to assume responsibility for the white-ball format, while Gillespie would lead the red-ball team. Furthermore, the PCB is exploring a flexible arrangement wherein Gillespie could step in for Kirsten during overlapping commitments, ensuring a seamless coaching experience for the players across formats.

It’s worth noting that the PCB typically finalizes coaching deals before advertising positions to comply with its regulations, a practice seemingly followed in this instance as well.