In a significant reshuffle of their coaching staff, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday the appointment of renowned former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten as the head coach for their white ball teams.
Kirsten, who previously led the Indian team to an ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup victory in 2011, will take charge of Pakistan’s squad as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Additionally, former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has been appointed as the head coach for the Test format.
The PCB confirmed that both appointments are set for a two-year term. Gary Kirsten is currently engaged as the batting coach and mentor for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and he will join the Pakistan team after the IPL concludes. His coaching tenure will commence with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, hosted by the USA and West Indies, and will extend through major tournaments including the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Jason Gillespie will begin his role in August during Pakistan’s home Test against Bangladesh, which is part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. His schedule includes subsequent series against England at home and South Africa away.
Gary Kirsten expressed enthusiasm about his new role, stating, “It’s a tremendous honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Pakistan men’s national team in white-ball cricket. I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to harness the considerable talents of the team towards achieving success together on the field.”
Reflecting on his previous coaching experiences, including his successful tenure with India and recent achievements in the IPL, Kirsten added, “One of the beautiful aspects of cricket is its universality. Across cultures, there’s a shared understanding when we discuss the game. My goal is to unite the Pakistan men’s white-ball team and lead them to success.”
Jason Gillespie also shared his excitement about his new role, emphasizing his passion for Test cricket. “I am grateful to the PCB for their faith in my abilities and giving me the honor of coaching one of the most highly-regarded and talented cricket teams in the traditional format of the sport,” said Gillespie. “I love winning and I know we have got the skill to make that happen. Aspiring to be in the ICC World Test Championship final, and to winning it, has to be a medium- to long-term goal for us.”
The PCB’s choice of Kirsten and Gillespie is indicative of their strategic approach to elevate Pakistan cricket by bringing in internationally acclaimed expertise. Both coaches bring a wealth of experience and have had notable coaching success in various global contexts.
Azhar Mahmood, who served as the head coach during the T20I series against New Zealand, will continue to be a part of the coaching setup as an all-format assistant coach. This trio of coaching talent is expected to kick-start a new era for Pakistan Cricket under the leadership of reinstated captain Babar Azam.
With these strategic appointments, the PCB aims to bolster Pakistan’s performance on the international stage, ensuring the team remains competitive across all formats of the game. Fans and experts alike will be keenly watching how these coaching changes translate into performance in the upcoming high-stakes tournaments.
