PCB wants Younis Khan to lead High Peformance Centre in Karachi

The PCB is keen to rope in former captain Younis Khan in a full-time role as the head of the High Performance Centre (HPC) in Karachi in addition to his role as Pakistan's batting consultant. Earlier this year, Khan signed up as the national team's batting coach for the tour of England, where they lost the Test series 1-0 and levelled the T20I series 1-1.

This is the third time the PCB has reached out to Khan to coax him into the coaching mix. They had initially wanted him to work at the National Cricket Academy - the predecessor to the HPC - in a development capacity though that didn't ultimately pan out. However, after that, Khan toured the UK as part of the star-studded support staff that also included Waqar Younis (bowling coach) and Mushtaq Ahmed (spin-bowling coach). That short-term stint ended in September.

In May last year, Khan was close to taking up a role as the country's Under-19 coach, but the plan eventually didn't come to pass. One of the sticking points, ESPNcricinfo reported, had to do with finances, while the other was with the job profile, as the PCB had proposed Khan only be a mentor and a coach, but he wanted a broader scope and a say in selection as well.

Khan brings with him vast experience as Pakistan's highest scorer in Test cricket, though he has had a frayed relationship with the PCB over the years. It is understood that various senior PCB officials have expressed reservations about working with him. However, a pep talk that he gave to the players on video during lockdown and his first stint as batting coach in England seems to have changed some of those opinions. Khan received positive feedback from the other backroom staff and the players for his role on the tour of England, where he had to deal with a large pool of players.