Pakistan failed to qualify for the World Cup to be held in the Netherlands in June -- a humiliating first for the four-time former champions.
Pakistan have also won three Olympic gold medals but fell to seventh position in the 2012 London Olympics. They were 12th and last in the 2010 World Cup in India.
Shaikh, who has had two unsuccessful stints as coach, said his first target would be to defend the Asian Games title which Pakistan won in China in 2010.
Meanwhile, former Pak skipper Manzoor Ahmed will coach the junior team after they finished ninth out of 12 teams in the Junior World Cup held in India last year.