Gary Kirsten has stepped down as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach with immediate effect. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Kirsten in April 2024 on a two-year deal, and six months into the job, the Protean decided to part ways just a week ahead of the Australia ODIs and T20Is.
The board announced bowling coach Jason Gillespie as his replacement on an interim basis.
Following PCB’s decision to snatch away the selection powers from Kirsten and bowling coach Jason Gillespie, allotting it to the newly-formed selection committee, the rift began between all parties concerned. Though Kirsten remained quiet about this development, Gillespie tried concealing it in the lead-up to the third Test between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi, saying his role is now reduced to a ‘match-day analyst’ and that ‘he didn’t sign up for this.’
The reports also suggested that the delay in the squad announcements for the Australia and Zimbabwe series was due to the animated discussions within the board, where Kirsten was keen to have his inputs taken into consideration.
On Sunday (Oct 27), at the time of unveiling Muhammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s new white-ball captain during a presser in Lahore, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was accompanied by Aaqib Javed, a new member of the selection committee and newly-appointed vice-captain Salman Agha. Head coach Kirsten was not even in the country at that time.
Meanwhile, shortly after Pakistan lost the first Test in Multan, an emergency meeting was called, where a new selection committee was formed, which included former cricketers and an ICC panel coach, Aleem Dar. With the PCB handing over the majority of powers to this new committee, which resulted in them winning their first series since 2021, thanks to fruitful changes to the playing XI and conditions for the remaining two Tests, the coaches felt sidelined with this call.
Who replaces Kirsten as permanent coach?
The PCB has named Gillespie as his replacement on an interim basis.
However, there’s a cache here. Aaqib Javed is said to have his eyes set on that position in the longer run, and who knows if PCB decides to bring him on board as the head coach.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will play three ODIs and as many T20Is Down Under, starting with the first ODI in Melbourne on November 4.
