LAHORE: Gary Kirsten has stepped down as head coach of Pakistan’s ODI and T20I teams just six months after his appointment in April 2024.
The former South African cricketer had been brought on by the PCB in April under a two-year contract to lead the white-ball teams. His resignation comes at a pivotal time, as Pakistan is set to tour Australia for a three-match ODI series starting November 4. Following Kirsten’s resignation, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that Jason Gillespie will step in as interim white-ball head coach for the Australia tour.
In an official post on X, the PCB confirmed, “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.”
Why did Kirsten resign as head coach?
According to sources, tension had developed between the newly-appointed coaching duo of Kirsten and Gillespie and the Pakistan Cricket Board due to the board’s decision to remove their selection authority. While Kirsten has remained publicly silent on the issue, sources reveal he is frustrated with being excluded from key decisions, including player selections and captaincy discussions, areas previously within the coaches’ domain. Kirsten and Gillespie were originally appointed to bring a fresh approach to Pakistan cricket; however, recent PCB decisions have reportedly left them with limited influence.
Following Pakistan’s loss in the first Test against England, the PCB announced a new selection panel—the third in three months—comprising Aaqib, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema, removing the coaches and captain from the selection process.
An official statement from the PCB regarding Kirsten’s resignation is expected soon.
In related news, the PCB announced central contracts for the 2024-25 season on Sunday, as well as the squads for the upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe. The board added 25 players to the central contract list, while dropping Fakhar Zaman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, and Iftikhar Ahmed. Reports suggest that Kirsten disagreed with the selected squads, adding to the strain.
In a further change, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as captain for Pakistan’s white-ball teams ahead of the upcoming tours.
Pakistan Squad for Australia:
ODI Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (vc), and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
T20I Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan.
