KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) have all but roped in former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to become their head coach for the next domestic season, the department’s cricket team manager Zaheer-ul-Hassan said on Sunday.

Shoaib, who played in 46 Tests, 163 One-day Internationals and 15 Twenty20 Internationals during an eventful career between 1997 and 2011, has agreed to take up the position subject to clearance from the bank’s sports committee, according to Zaheer.

“It will be a huge bonus for us to have a cricketer of his stature in the support staff as the head coach. We are extremely happy that Shoaib has expressed his desire to play his role in uplifting the State Bank cricket team,” Zaheer told Dawn. “Shoaib has shown deep interest when we approached him. At the moment we are in the process of formalising the contract details.”

Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali, who is the head coach of the two-time President’s Trophy champions Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, has also been approached by SBP to take up the role if the deal with Shoaib, who has never coached any side, falls through.

“Yes, we have also made an offer to Basit to join us. He has done wonders to the SNGPL over the past few seasons. We have kept our options [talks with Basit] open in case Shoaib change his mind or something else comes up,” Zaheer explained.

SBP barely avoided being denied first-class status for next season after they finished 10th in the 11-team President’s Trophy this season, winning just two and losing five matches. Pakistan Television (PTV), who finished last were relegated and will be replaced by recent Patron’s Trophy winners Sui Southern Gas Company for the 2014-15 season.

In the President’s Cup one-day tournament, SBP ended sixth in the standings with four wins and five defeats while one match was abandoned.

Zaheer said under Shoaib, SBP would benefit immensely after going through a miserable season in 2013-14.

“Yeah, it was a very close call [to avert relegation] last season. At times the entire squad was under great pressure to survive the drop. Had that been the case, it would have been pretty hard for us to run the team because a colossal amount is spent each season.

“The management wants the SBP team to performance well and not struggle as was the case this season. Which is why we are now planning not only to have a strong support staff but also bring in several reputed names to strengthen the playing squad,” Zaheer emphasised.

He said that the current SBP squad has a number of cricketers who are now in the twilight of their playing career and need to be replaced sooner than later.

In this context, SBP may be having the services of prominent Pakistan players in their ranks. Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, who leads Pakistan International Airlines in domestic events, could be turning out for SBP next season.

Test opener Imran Farhat, who has remained out of favour with the Pakistan selectors for a while now, could also move over to SBP from Habib Bank Limited the only department he has represented since 1999-2000.

Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) could lose as many as four of their regular players as SBP plan to sign on discarded Test wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider, out-of-favour batsman Haris Sohail, Pakistan limited-overs opener Sharjeel Khan and upcoming all-rounder Babar Azam.

Pakistan Under-19 all-rounder Kamran Ghulam and left-arm Karachi paceman Mir Hamza, who is on K-Electric payroll, are in the running to join SBP.

But the biggest acquisition for SBP is likely to be the tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir who is serving the ban imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his role in the infamous spot-fixing fiasco during the Lord’s Test against England in August 2010.

According to reliable sources, Amir, who is hoping to have his five-year before next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, has expressed his desire to play for SBP. Before being banned Amir turned out for National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).