Gary Kirsten steps down as Pakistan’s white-ball cricket coach just six months into his role, citing disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board. Former World Cup-winning coach Jason Gillespie now leads the team for upcoming Australia and Zimbabwe tours.
Gary Kirsten has officially resigned as Pakistan’s men’s white-ball cricket coach just six months after his appointment, amid escalating conflicts with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The former South African cricketer’s departure comes on the heels of a major restructuring within Pakistan’s selection committee and reports of limited involvement in team selections, sparking questions about PCB’s internal dynamics.
Jason Gillespie, head coach of Pakistan’s Test team, will lead the white-ball team on its upcoming ODI and T20 tours of Australia and Zimbabwe, though he has not yet been confirmed as Kirsten’s permanent replacement. Gillespie, previously sidelined from the selection process, expressed his own frustrations with PCB’s shifting plans, highlighting the lack of long-term strategy.
This marks the third selection panel shift in recent months, as the PCB appointed Aqib Javed, along with cricket figures like Aleem Dar and Azhar Ali, to form a new-look committee that excluded both coaches from selection decisions. The new panel has already named Mohammad Rizwan as the white-ball captain, with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain.
Kirsten and Gillespie initially joined the Pakistan coaching staff with ambitious goals to improve team fitness and fielding standards. However, the power tussles within the PCB have sparked uncertainty around the future of Pakistan’s cricket leadership, just months ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
Source: Swifteradio.com
