Gary Kirsten has stepped down as head coach of Pakistan’s ODI and T20I teams, just six months after his appointment by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The former India World Cup-winning coach had joined the PCB on a two-year contract in April 2024, but his resignation follows escalating tensions with the PCB, largely over the board’s decision to transfer team selection powers to an exclusive selection committee.
The move to strip coaches of selection authority, now vested solely in a committee comprising figures like Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema, reportedly created friction with Kirsten and his fellow coach, Jason Gillespie. Gillespie, publicly expressing frustration, noted that he had been reduced to a “match-day analyst,” far from the responsibilities he anticipated.
Although Kirsten refrained from making a public statement, sources indicate his disappointment with the restructuring. His absence was conspicuous during the announcement of new white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan, as chairman Mohsin Naqvi stood alongside selection committee member Aaqib Javed rather than the coaching team.
The reshuffle within the PCB has been swift and disruptive, with the latest selection panel taking control after Pakistan’s loss in the opening Test against England. Dubbed “Aaqib-ball” by some, including captain Rizwan, the influence of Aaqib and the panel became evident as new strategies and player choices were quickly implemented.
Kirsten’s departure also means that he exits without having coached Pakistan in a single ODI—an ironic twist, given his acclaimed success in the format with India. The South African’s tenure began with a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign in the USA, where Pakistan was eliminated early after losses to both India and the USA. Though his role was intended to culminate in leading Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy at home in 2025, this sudden exit raises questions over the direction of Pakistan’s coaching strategy.
With Pakistan’s tour of Australia beginning on November 4, the PCB has limited time to identify Kirsten’s replacement.
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