Kevin Pietersen Criticizes Pakistan Cricket Following Gary Kirsten's Departure

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has expressed his frustration with the Pakistan cricket team after the recent dismissal of Gary Kirsten as head coach for the ODI and T20 formats. Kirsten, who had been in the role for just six months, resigned from his position, prompting Pietersen to take to social media to voice his disappointment.

In his post, Pietersen questioned how Pakistan could afford to lose someone with Kirsten's impressive coaching resume, stating, "How can Pakistan Cricket lose Gary Kirsten with his resume in coaching? One step forward the last few weeks and two steps back today! Stop doing it to yourself. Too much talent to keep doing this kind of stuff!" His comments reflect a broader concern about the inconsistency within Pakistan cricket and the management of their coaching staff.

Kirsten's resignation comes at a critical time, just one week before Pakistan's white-ball tour of Australia, which is set to begin on November 4. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had appointed Kirsten to a two-year contract in April 2024, hoping to build a strong team leading into future international competitions.

In light of Kirsten's exit, the PCB has announced that Jason Gillespie, the current Test coach who recently led Pakistan to its first home Test series victory over England since 2021, will step in as head coach for the Australian tour. This move comes as Pakistan prepares for a series that includes three ODIs and three T20Is.

Kirsten's tenure was notably marked by the team's disappointing performance at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, where Pakistan faced early elimination in the group stage, suffering losses to both India and the USA. With an eye on the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025—an event Pakistan will host for the first time in nearly 30 years—the team finds itself in a critical phase, needing stability and direction in their coaching staff.