Gary Kirsten has resigned from his position as Pakistan’s white-ball coach just six months after his appointment, citing a growing rift with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The 56-year-old South African, renowned for coaching India to their 2011 ODI World Cup victory, was appointed by the PCB in late April 2024.
Reports indicate that tensions began to surface when the national selection committee was granted exclusive responsibility for team selections, leaving no room for input from Kirsten or the team captain. This lack of collaboration has been a significant point of contention. Additionally, Pakistan’s Test coach, Jason Gillespie, expressed frustration over the reduction of his role to merely a match-day analyst, which he claims was not part of the original agreement.
Although Kirsten has not publicly commented on the situation, sources from ESPNCricinfo suggest he is deeply dissatisfied with the recent changes. His displeasure was further exacerbated when Mohammad Rizwan was appointed as the new white-ball captain without any consultation with Kirsten, who was not present in the country at the time of the announcement.
The discord has reportedly arisen not just between Kirsten and the PCB, but also with Gillespie, particularly after the board withdrew their selection powers. Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema were recently added to the selection committee following Pakistan’s loss in the first Test against England, with Javed expected to take over as the white-ball coach on a long-term basis.
Prior to his role in Pakistan, Kirsten served as a batting coach for the Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans. His resignation comes just a week before Pakistan’s upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, set to begin on November 4, 2024. The team recently celebrated a 2-1 Test series victory over England, which further complicates the timing of his departure.
