Gary Kirsten has officially stepped down as Pakistan’s white-ball coach, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Monday. Following his departure, Test head coach Jason Gillespie will temporarily lead the white-ball squad for the upcoming limited-overs tour of Australia.
Kirsten, a former South African top-order batter and experienced coach, was appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball coach on April 28, 2024. His tenure saw the national team’s early elimination in the 2024 World Cup, with Pakistan suffering unexpected losses in their initial matches despite being in winning positions.
During Kirsten’s brief time with the team, the PCB made several adjustments to the men’s national selection committee, reportedly curtailing Kirsten’s influence in selection decisions. This tension culminated in the board’s decision to hand over selection responsibilities exclusively to the selection committee, excluding Kirsten from the process.
As per ESPNcricinfo, Kirsten, who wanted a more active role in selection and team composition, engaged in animated discussions with the PCB but was ultimately excluded from squad selection decisions, including the recent announcement of Mohammad Rizwan as captain and Agha Salman as vice-captain of the white-ball team. These appointments were made while Kirsten was abroad, further signaling discord between the coach and the PCB.
Although Kirsten was instrumental in leading India to an ODI World Cup victory in 2011, he did not get a chance to coach Pakistan in a single ODI match during his six-month tenure.
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