Gary Kirsten resigns as Pakistan white-ball head coach after just 6 months in charge - Reports
Former South Africa batter Gary Kirsten has stepped down as Pakistan's ODI and T20I head coach after a major rift with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He was recently removed from the selection committee along with red-ball coach Jason Gillespie after another shakeup behind the scenes following the team's loss to England in the Test series opener.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Kirsten was involved in several rounds of discussion about the squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. Following Babar Azam's resignation as white-ball skipper, the Men in Green also had the task of appointing his successor.
PCB announced the squad for the Australia and Zimbabwe tours on Sunday, October 27, while naming Mohammed Rizwan as the new skipper. It is unclear how much say Kirsten had in the proceedings, given that he was no longer in the selection panel. During the squad announcement, figures like PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and selection committee member Aaqib Javed were present, while Kirsten was not even in the country.
Kirsten not availing the chance to contribute with his input regarding personnel and selection decision-making may have been the last straw, as his resignation comes a day after the squad announcement.
He had spoken about the concerns plaguing Pakistan cricket during the 'Connection Camp' stages by the PCB, which involved the chairman, the coaches, and several senior contracted players.
Red-ball coach Jason Gillespie had also expressed displeasure over the recent shake-up by the PCB, which reduces him to a 'match-day strategist'.
It is unknown who will be responsible for the coaching duties in Pakistan's upcoming tours. Assistant coach Azhar Mahmood had stepped up as an interim during Pakistan's home series against New Zealand after Mohammed Hafeez was relieved of his duties.
Gary Kirsten's reign included some forgettable moments for Pakistan cricket
Gary Kirsten had been brought in as a white-ball coach on a two-year contract in April 2024 as PCB chose to implement the dual coach system like other leading sides in world cricket.
The priority during his arrival was T20 cricket, keeping the World Cup in mind. His reign kickstarted with a loss to Ireland in the series opener of a three-match affair. While Pakistan bounced back to overturn the score, they endured a series defeat against England heading into the Caribbean and the United States of America (USA).
The 2024 T20 World Cup ended up being a dark chapter in Pakistan cricket as they were eliminated in the group stages, recording losses against the USA and India. Kirsten departs without managing a single ODI fixture despite being roped in as a white-ball coach.