Shane Deitz Set to Coach Pakistan Women’s Team

Former West Indies women’s head coach Shane Deitz is set to take charge of the Pakistan women’s cricket team, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deciding to appoint a foreign coach as part of a restructuring of the women’s setup. The 51-year-old Australian is expected to assume his responsibilities ahead of Pakistan’s bilateral tour of the West Indies in December.

Reports from Geo Super, ProPakistani and the Daily Pioneer, citing PCB sources, say Deitz has emerged as the leading candidate for the role currently associated with former fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who has been working as a mentor and consultant with the women’s team since late 2025. The PCB has decided to replace Wahab as part of planned changes to the team’s coaching and management structure.

A proven record with West Indies

Deitz recently completed a three-year stint as head coach of the West Indies women’s team. His contract expired on October 31, 2026, and both parties mutually agreed not to extend it. Under his leadership, the Caribbean side reached the semi-finals of consecutive ICC Women’s T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026 — a record the board’s director of cricket, Miles Bascombe, described as the new standard for the group.

Cricket West Indies has since appointed former men’s Test head coach Andre Coley as interim coach of the women’s team. Coley will lead the side in the upcoming series against Pakistan, working with the existing support staff.

What the PCB wants from Deitz

According to the reports, the PCB has received very good feedback about Deitz’s work in women’s cricket and is keen to sign him on a two-to-three-year contract so he can prepare the team for the 2028 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which Pakistan will host. The board wants him in place before the women’s team plays its series in the Caribbean in December, although the official schedule has yet to be announced.

The PCB has already attached former Test players Imran Farhat, Abdul Rehman and Umaid Asif as coaches with the women’s team since last year, as part of the same restructuring effort.

Immediate assignments ahead

Before Deitz formally begins his Pakistan duties in December, the women’s team — led by stand-in captain Muneeba Ali — will feature in the second edition of the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, to be played in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, from November 12 to 25. The tournament has expanded from eight to 10 teams, with Pakistan placed in Group B alongside Bangladesh, Thailand, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe. Pakistan open their campaign against Bangladesh on November 12.

The appointment, once formally confirmed by the PCB, would mark a significant shift in the board’s approach to the women’s programme — moving from a home-grown mentor setup to a foreign head coach with recent World Cup pedigree, and giving the team a settled leader well ahead of a home World Cup in 2028.

Read our report on India beating New Zealand in the second ODI here: https://ntmnews.online/?p=4048

Read our report on Mohammed Shami announcing his Test retirement here: https://ntmnews.online/?p=3993

Sources: Female Cricket (7 November 2026), Geo Super (4 November 2026), ProPakistani (4 November 2026), Daily Pioneer (6 November 2026)