Former Pakistan captain and coach Misbah-ul-Haq has criticised the PCB for considering Mickey Arthur for another role at Pakistan Cricket. He called it a “slap on our cricket system” for being unable to find a high-profile, full-time coach.

PCB are reportedly in discussion with Arthur for the role of men’s team director, more than three years after his role as men’s coach was terminated. Under interim head of PCB Najam Sethi, Pakistan are currently looking for a replacement for outgoing coach Saqlain Mushtaq.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Misbah – who himself coached Pakistan from 2019 to 2021 (while also handling the dual role of chief selector at one point) said: “It’s a slap on our cricket system that we are not able to find a high-profile full-time coach. It’s a shame that the best ones do not want to come and we insist on having someone who is looking at Pakistan as a second option.

“I blame our own system, which is vulnerable enough with so many weak lines for anyone to exploit it. We are to be blamed ourselves that we have disrespected and discredited our own people to make a bad image. The present and former lot don’t respect each other, with media and former players using their own YouTube channels for ratings, damaging the credibility and value of our cricket which, as as result, gives an impression that we are not capable.”

According to several reports, Arthur could take up an ‘online’ role with the PCB, while continuing his deal with Derbyshire.

Misbah also questioned the PCB’s decision of looking at foreign coaches over hiring someone within Pakistan, a sentiment echoed by Shahid Afridi, until recently the interim chief selector.

“PCB is always ready to back foreign coaches but never supports the local ones,” said Misbah. “They are fond of having overseas coaches because they think locals can easily be politicised and are incapable. But do we know it’s the PCB bureaucracy who politicised the structure? They throw the local ones under the bus when they come under pressure and there has never been accountability of this bureaucracy in PCB. It’s the mismanagement and the consistent changes at the helm that is a problem and we are never able to find one solid line for our cricket.”

Misbah pointed out that Pakistan has no dearth of capable candidates for the high-profile role, but the system is fraught with inconsistent policy making and tarnished reputations.

“Now there is a common narrative that Pakistan cricket does not even have a single capable guy and they are forced to look outside. Successful teams like India have completely shifted to homegrown coaches but sadly the policies here are so inconsistent and vague that we are never able to reach a consensus on what we want to do. We have some very good people in our system who can contribute well like Haji [Mohammad Akram], Aaqib Javed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, etc. but their reputation has been tarnished so badly and people think they are not right for the job.”