SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 11: Matthew Wade and Steve Smith of Australia and Australian coach Andrew McDonald share a laugh before the warm-up ahead of game one in the T20 International series between Australia and Sri Lanka at Sydney Cricket Ground on February 11, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Interim Australian coach Andrew McDonald has stated that he is yet to engage in formal conversations with the Cricket Australia board regarding a full-time contract for the role.

Although McDonald will lead Australia's touring party to Pakistan later this month, the Victorian expressed that his lack of a permanent deal will not distract from the side's aims for success on the subcontinent.

"I haven't had any conversations either way," McDonald stated on Thursday.

"It's really just been bedding down the interim role until the end of Pakistan and getting to work on the preparations, getting to work on the team.

"I'm very happy with whatever timelines they (CA) want to work within.

"It won't become a distraction, that will just be happening in the background."

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In a diplomatic fashion, the four-time Test representative played a straight bat to further questioning.

"Our focus is firmly on the first Test in Rawalpindi and preparation here," McDonald continued.

"What happens with the process they run, and how that looks and where it fits in is entirely up to the (CA) admin base to work through.

"The coaching stuff is well and truly in the background for us here."

While CA representatives have stressed that they held aims of filling the role as swiftly as possible, there remained a sticking point regarding whether to split the senior coach's role in half.

According to reports from cricket.com.au, recently instated chairperson Lachlan Henderson has previously stated that he remained open to the notion of employing a full-time head coach for the Australian Test side, as well as another steward to lead the nation's white-ball endavours.

Dr Lachlan Henderson Press Conference
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 17: Dr Lachlan Henderson speaks to the media during a press conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 17, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Cricket Australia today announced Henderson as the new chair of the board of directors. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

However, CA's CEO Nick Hockley has claimed that Australia's Test, ODI and T20 representatives would be best served by an "over-arching head coach".

Yet to formally throw his hat into the ring, McDonald expressed that he was aware of the view to divide the pedagogical position.

"There's been some speculation around split roles or whether it's one coach, and that will all come out," he added.

"But I think the key thing for us is to focus on cricket, and that's what we're here to do."

The opening Test of Australia's tour is set to commence on March 4 at 4:00pm AEDT.