Shane Watson will step down as the head coach of Quetta Gladiators ahead of the HBL PSL Season 10, citing schedule conflicts that affect his prior commitments. The franchise made the announcement on social media on Wednesday.
Franchise owner Nadeem Omar expressed gratitude to Watson, saying, “Quetta Gladiators will always be indebted to Shane Watson for his outstanding contributions. He remains one of the top superstars associated with our franchise.”
Watson, a key figure for the team, has been seen as a good luck charm, contributing significantly both as a player and as a coach. As a player, Watson helped Quetta win their first PSL title in 2019, scoring 430 runs and earning the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award.
Appointed as head coach in 2024, Watson led the team to the playoffs after a four-year absence. Following Watson’s resignation, there are reports suggesting that Sarfaraz Ahmed, a long-time Gladiators player who was not selected in the PSL 2025 draft, could take over the role of head coach. Ahmed, who has been with the team since 2016, is expected to return to a leadership position.
