Gary Kirsten resigned as the head coach of Pakistan’s ODI and T20I teams on Monday, October 28. The PCB signed Kirsten to a two-year deal in April 2024. But Gary Kirsten was only in charge for six months, stepping down only one week before Pakistan’s ODI series against Australia. Meanwhile, PCB has announced that Test Coach Jason Gillespie would replace Kirsten for the white-ball tour of Australia.
Reasons Behind Gary Kirsten’s Departure
On April 28, the Board selected Kirsten, a former South African top-order batter, as the men’s national team’s white-ball head coach. He coached the team in the World Cup 2024 when the Green Shirts were eliminated after losing both of their first two games from winning positions. During Kirsten’s brief tenure, the cricket board made various changes to the men’s national selection committee membership, which limited Gary Kirsten’s abilities.
Separately, the PCB selected wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan as captain and batting all-rounder Agha Salman as vice-captain of the cricket team for the white-ball tournament on October 28. That conference was held during Gary Kirsten’s absence from the nation and the press conference. Later, sources revealed that he had left Pakistan. Despite winning the cricket World Cup with India in 2011, Pakistan did not play a single one-day international (ODI) match under Kirsten’s leadership.
Pakistan’s Coach Kirsten Tough Start
Pakistan spent over three months searching for what Naqvi termed as “the finest in class” coaches for the group. Many high-profile prospects, like Shane Watson and Daren Sammy, have expressed interest. But, in the end, they chose Gary Kirsten for the white-ball game after he guided India to its first ODI World Cup triumph in 28 years in 2011.
According to Mohsin Naqvi, this was a wonderful chance for the Pakistan team to learn about great benefits. Kirsten’s first significant tournament was the T20 World Cup in the United States, which was a disappointing start to his coaching career. Pakistan’s fastest exit from a T20 World Cup came in the first round, after losing to the United States and India in three games. Babar Azam also dropped out as white-ball captain for the second time a few months later.
However, it was believed at the time that Kirsten needed time to develop himself and lead a squad. Especially Gary Kristen, who will host the ICC Champions Trophy at home in early 2025, Pakistan’s first ICC tournament in almost three decades. On October 28, the first group of players will leave for Melbourne. And on October 29, the rest of the team will arrive. Pakistan will play another white-ball series in Zimbabwe after the trip to Australia.
Final Verdict
The resignation of Gary Kirsten is a major blow to Pakistan’s cricket squad. Especially as Pakistan is preparing for a tour of Australia. His brief tenure was filled with challenges, ranging from squad selection changes to unsatisfactory tournament results. With Jason Gillespie on board, the Pakistan squad has another opportunity to reorganize and chart a clear course for the future. Lessons learned from this time will surely play a significant role in deciding Pakistan’s future in cricket.
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