Gary Kirsten's Likely Exit as Pakistan's White-Ball Coach Amidst Team Tensions
Kirsten took over as the white-ball coach in mid-May, shortly after concluding his contract with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. His tenure began in England, where Pakistan suffered a series loss, followed by a disappointing T20 World Cup run.
Gary Kirsten's role as Pakistan’s white-ball coach seems set to end, with multiple signs pointing to his imminent departure. Although an official statement is still pending, Kirsten is not expected to join the squad for the upcoming Australia or Zimbabwe tours. A significant factor appears to be a breakdown in relations between Kirsten and both players and management, further complicated by a PCB rejection of Kirsten's proposal to appoint David Reid as a High Performance coach. Instead, the PCB suggested alternatives which Kirsten reportedly found unsatisfactory.
Kirsten took over as the white-ball coach in mid-May, shortly after concluding his contract with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. His tenure began in England, where Pakistan suffered a series loss, followed by a disappointing T20 World Cup run. Pakistan lost to the U.S. and narrowly to India, failing to advance to the knockout rounds.
As Pakistan prepares for the ICC Champions Trophy in just a few months, the PCB faces the pressure of finding a new white-ball coach. Aaqib Javed, currently a national selector, is considered a leading candidate due to his recent success with the Test team. Alternatively, Jason Gillespie, the red-ball coach, may be asked to take on dual roles.
