PSL 9: Shaun Tait joins Quetta Gladiators as new bowling coach

Former Australian paceman Shaun Tait has been appointed as the new fast bowling coach of Quetta Gladiators ahead of the thrilling Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9.

The 40-year-old has previous experience coaching the Afghanistan cricket team in the 2021 T20 World Cup while he held the role for Pakistan from March 2022 to January 2023.

“I am excited to work with Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Amir,” Tait said in a video posted by Quetta Gladiators.

“They are some great talents to work with and also it will be great to work alongside the great Shane Watson,” he added.

Remember, Quetta named Shane Watson as the new head coach of the franchise after elevating Moin Khan to the position of Team Director from head coach.

Khan, who has been an integral part of the team’s coaching setup since the inaugural season of PSL, stepped into this new role after serving as head coach for eight years.

Under Khan’s coaching stewardship, the team clinched the championship title in 2019 and emerged as runners-up twice, marking a period of consistent success and growth for the Gladiators.

It must be noted that Gladiators did three trades before the PSL 9 draft which took place on December 13. Rilee Rossouw (from Multan Sultans), Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim Jr (Islamabad United) were traded while Naseem Shah (to United) and Iftikhar Ahmed (to Sultans) left the side.

They made some good picks in the draft. The top pick was retired Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir with West Indies’ hard-hitter Sherfaine Rutherford in the Platinum category.

Quetta Gladiators squad: Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Amir, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali Junior, Usman Qadir, Omair Bin Yousuf, Will Smeed, Khawaja Nafay, Adil Naz, Akeal Hosain, and Sohail Khan.