Gary Kirsten quit as Pakistan’s white-ball coach over a fallout with the board.
Source: NDTV
The Pakistan cricket team has announced the appointment of Test team coach Jason Gillespie as the new white-ball coach for the upcoming series against Australia and Zimbabwe. Gillespie’s appointment is on a temporary basis, while a new full-time head coach for white-ball cricket will be announced in due time. The change follows Gary Kirsten’s resignation, reportedly due to disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over team selection and strategic decisions.
The PCB confirmed Kirsten’s exit, stating that his resignation was accepted and that Gillespie would take charge of the forthcoming assignments against Australia and Zimbabwe.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men’s cricket team on next month’s white-ball tour of Australia after Gary Kirsten submitted his resignation, which was accepted,” PCB shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men’s cricket team on next month’s white-ball tour of Australia after Gary Kirsten submitted his resignation, which was accepted.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 28, 2024
Kirsten’s resignation comes barely 6 months into his appointment as head coach for Pakistan’s white-ball team. Reports suggest disagreements between Kirsten and the PCB over the selection process and team announcements for the upcoming series played a significant role in his decision to step down.
Sources revealed to IANS that the new selection committee did not include Kirsten’s input on squad selections, which intensified the rift. “PCB used the same approach when its new selection committee denied and ignored Test coach Jason Gillespie and captain Shan Masood from having a say in team selection,” sources said.
The same sources noted, “And while the selection committee’s attitude did not sit well with Jason Gillespie, he was adamant about continuing his duties. Gary Kirsten, on the other hand, has taken a different route and announced his resignation.”
Kirsten was appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball coach in April 2024 on a two-year contract. However, the team’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup raised questions about his leadership, prompting the PCB and its selection committee to take a more hands-on approach, which ultimately led to Kirsten’s departure.
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