- Shane Watson becomes Quetta Gladiators’ head coach for PSL 2024.
- Moin Khan shifts from head coach to team director.
- With Watson’s past record of 430 runs in 2019, there are numerical expectations for Gladiators’ performance under his coaching.
In a significant move, Quetta Gladiators have secured the services of former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as their head coach for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 edition. This development marks a historic change for the Gladiators, as it is the franchise’s first coaching staff alteration since the inception of the tournament. The outgoing coach, Moin Khan, who held the position for eight years, will transition into the role of team director.
Related: Moin Khan appointed team director of Quetta Gladiators
A final agreement has been reached between Watson and the Gladiators, with an official announcement expected imminently. The impact of Watson’s appointment on the broader coaching staff remains uncertain, leading to speculation about the possibility of a comprehensive overhaul following the team’s four consecutive seasons without reaching the playoffs.
Quetta Gladiators enjoyed a remarkable start in the initial four editions of the PSL, emerging as the most consistent franchise. They reached the final thrice and clinched the title in 2019. Watson, a cornerstone of the team since joining in 2018, played a pivotal role until 2020 and is considered one of the franchise’s greatest overseas players. His standout performance came in the triumphant 2019 campaign, where he topped the run-scoring charts with 430 runs at a striking rate of 143.81, earning him the prestigious Player-of-the-Tournament award.
After retiring from all forms of cricket in 2020, Watson seamlessly transitioned into coaching. His coaching journey began with the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals in 2022, where he served as an assistant coach alongside former Australian teammate Ricky Ponting. Earlier this year, Watson assumed the head coaching role for the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket.
At 42 years old, Watson brings a wealth of playing experience to his coaching role. In his illustrious career, he represented Australia in 59 Tests and played a pivotal role in limited-overs cricket, scoring 5757 runs in 190 ODIs at an average of 40.54. Notably, he was part of Australia’s World Cup-winning squads in 2007 and 2015. In T20Is, Watson accumulated 1462 runs at a staggering strike rate of 145.32, showcasing his prowess as an all-rounder.
