Even after PCB agreed to pay Shane Watson $2 million, Watson is still considering a coaching position in Pakistan

Despite the PCB agreeing to his wage demands, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, who is expected to become the next head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, is still undecided.

The biggest price ever given to a foreign coach, $2 million a year, or around 46 million rupees a month, is what Watson has reportedly sought, according to board sources.

Watson’s demands are far more than the salaries of former foreign coaches in Pakistan, like Richard Pybus, Bob Woolmer, Geoff Lawson, Dav Whatmore, Grant Bradburn, and Mickey Arthur.

“In addition to his Major League Baseball obligations in the USA, he has a young family in Australia. He is thus considering his alternatives since the board wants him to spend as much time as possible in Pakistan, assisting them in identifying and developing local talent, the source said.

He acknowledged that the regular turnover in the coaching staff and PCB was the reason Watson was taking his time to sign the deal.

Although Watson has dabbled in coaching positions in the Indian Premier League, he now coaches the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has no previous experience leading an international team (IPL)

With the full support of the board, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear that he would prefer a foreign coaching staff to manage the squad.

Despite being nominated as the minister of interior, Naqvi has said he will continue to serve on the board and has no plans to leave it.

It would not be the first occasion, however, that a PCB official has had a government job, and the source said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) was in favor of Naqvi carrying out the dual function.

In addition to appointing six Punjabi government administrators to serve on the board on a deputation basis, Naqvi said he would not be receiving a salary in his capacity as interior minister.