A head coach will also be appointed alongside the two, Ramiz said in his first press conference as PCB chairman
The two former cricketers came as unexpected appointments, and it was not immediately clear what specific roles they would play. Ramiz also said there would be a head coach appointed alongside them, but did not reveal a name.
“Matthew Hayden is Australian, and has experience of winning World Cups and was a great player himself,” Ramiz said. “It might be very beneficial to have an Australian occupying the dressing room. And Pakistan, of course, can win the World Cup, they just need to improve their performances an extra 10%. Vernon Philander I know very well, and he understands bowling, and has a great record against Australia.”
Hayden and Philander have exceptional credentials as cricketers, but neither has any substantive coaching experience. Philander only retired from international cricket in 2020, and was due to take part in the South African domestic season which begins on September 24 this year. Hayden retired in 2009, and has taken on occasional media work, but his assignment with Pakistan at the World Cup is his first major coaching assignment.
Philander linking up with Pakistan ahead of the World Cup is complicated, though, by his contract with the Western Province domestic side in South Africa, who he was signed to play for this season. An official at Western Province confirmed to ESPNcricinfo Philander’s contract had been running since May, with the side having paid him since then. WP are understood to issue a statement on the matter in due course.
Given Philander is under contract with WP, a unilateral decision by the former South African bowler to accept Pakistan’s offer without WP’s permission would constitute a breach of contract, a potential hurdle both he, and the PCB, will have to clear if he is to join the Pakistan coaching staff. The PCB, however, told ESPNcricinfo WP have given Philander permission to join Pakistan until the end of the T20 World Cup.