Turned Down $2 Million Offer, Shane Watson Declines Pakistan Coaching Job

Pakistan's search for a foreign coach has landed them in a disappointing situation, with former Australian allrounder Shane Watson and former West Indian captain Darren Sammy withdrawing from the competition to be the national team's next coach.

Darren Sammy cited his national commitments -

While Sammy declined advances from the PCB, citing his existing contract with the West Indies board as head coach of the WI of white-ball teams, Watson flew home on Saturday night after rejecting an offer from the Pakistan board.

According to a source familiar with the situation, senior PCB officials met with Watson in Karachi during the PSL matches and offered him the role of head coach.

Watson had initially shown interest and kept certain financial and other conditions to accept the offer.
~the source said

But after the board more or less accepted Watson's financial demands the Australian was not happy that details of the proposed package were leaked out in the Pakistan media and social media.

Watson had commitments with IPL board -

The Australian then politely turned down the offer insisting he had prior commitments as a commentator in the IPL and also in the major USA league besides wanting to give more time to his family in Sydney.

The PCB reportedly had agreed to a 2 million dollar annual fee for Watson.

PCB is now expected to go for an interim arrangement for the national team to supervise the training camp in Kakul from March 25 to April 8 ahead of the home five-match T20 series against New Zealand from April 14 in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

A team of local coaches as an interim arrangement for the camp and NZ series is the only available option for the PCB now and Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will be required to make a call after the PSL final on 18th March.
~the source said

Naqvi has stated that he intends to recruit foreign coaches for the national side on a long-term basis, spanning the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States, as well as the Champions Trophy in Pakistan early next year.

According to the source, former Pakistan captains Younis Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Inzamam ul Haq, and Moin Khan are also under consideration for the time being.