In a surprising turn of events, Gary Kirsten has stepped down as the head coach of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team. The former South African cricketer and India’s World Cup-winning coach left the position just six months into his tenure due to irreconcilable differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The PCB has appointed Jason Gillespie, the current red-ball coach, to take over the white-ball team temporarily. This decision comes ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe, where they will play a total of 12 white-ball matches.
Reports suggest that Kirsten’s departure was due to disagreements with the PCB over various issues, including the appointment of support staff and the selection process. His request to bring in David Reid as a high-performance coach was not approved by the board, leading to further tensions.
The PCB’s decision to remove Kirsten and Gillespie from the selection committees has also been criticized by former Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur, who emphasized the importance of coach involvement in player selection.
With less than four months to go before the Champions Trophy, the PCB now faces the challenge of finding a new full-time white-ball coach. The tournament, which Pakistan will host for the first time in over two decades, is a significant event for the country.
Kirsten’s tenure with Pakistan began in mid-May after his stint with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. His time with the team was marked by mixed results, including a series loss to England and a disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup.
