Shane McDermott steps down as Pakistan's fielding coach ahead of West Indies tour
Shane McDermott (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 11 Jul 2026, 08:58 PM• Read time - 2 mins
Pakistan’s fielding coach Shane McDermott stepped down from his position on Saturday, July 11. McDermott was appointed Pakistan's all-format fielding coach a year ago and was expected to be part of their support staff for the Asian Games in September.
His resignation has come as a surprise to many, as no reason has been specified for McDermott’s stepping down from his position. McDermott has extensive international fielding coaching experience, having served as Bangladesh's assistant fielding coach for three years before spending another three years in the same role with Sri Lanka.
He joined Pakistan ahead of their three-match T20I series in Bangladesh in July 2025, replacing Mohammad Masroor as the team's fielding coach.
Pakistan have had several fielding coaches since Mickey Arthur began his first stint as head coach, as fitness and fielding became central pillars of his high-performance philosophy. Working alongside Steve Rixon, Arthur helped massively improve Pakistan’s fielding.
However, that progress gradually faded after Rixon's departure in 2018. Grant Bradburn succeeded him, while Aftab Khan, Abdul Majeed and Mohammad Masroor have all served as Pakistan's fielding coach at different stages over the past five years.
Pakistan to tour West Indies next
Although Pakistan never fully regained the fielding standards achieved under Rixon, McDermott put special emphasis on helping the team make good progress. He made players undergo training sessions featuring higher-intensity drills with a greater focus on improving athleticism and catching standards.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to name his successor, with the Test squad set to depart later this week for the West Indies, where they will play a tour match followed by a two-match series, beginning on July 25 in Trinidad.
Pakistan will be led by their new skipper Babar Azam during the series, who returns to lead the Test side after stepping down from his position in 2023.