Gary Kirsten Resigns as Pakistan White-Ball Coach Amid PCB Discontent: reports

Gary Kirsten steps down as Pakistan’s white-ball coach after just six months, citing ongoing disagreements with the PCB.

In a surprising development, Gary Kirsten has resigned from his role as Pakistan’s white-ball coach, just six months after joining the team on a two-year contract. Kirsten, a former South African cricketer and 2011 ICC World Cup-winning coach, took up the position in April 2024, but recent internal challenges have reportedly led him to exit ahead of Pakistan’s white-ball series in Australia, as per Cricbuzz.

According to sources, Kirsten’s tenure was marred by disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), particularly over staffing choices. A key point of contention was the board’s refusal to appoint David Reid, Kirsten’s choice for the high-performance coach role. This “difference of opinion” has caused considerable friction, culminating in Kirsten’s decision to leave his position, sources told Cricbuzz.

Adding to the instability, Jason Gillespie, Pakistan’s red-ball coach, has also expressed frustration with the PCB’s recent shift in selection powers. Both Kirsten and Gillespie were stripped of their roles in team selection—a responsibility now handled solely by the PCB’s selection committee, which includes former ICC Elite Umpire Aleem Dar and former cricketer Aaqib Javed. Kirsten and Gillespie’s discontent reportedly stems from what they described as a misalignment with the initial terms they agreed to upon joining.

This resignation follows Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the recent T20 World Cup, where the team failed to progress beyond the group stage after losses to the USA and India. Kirsten’s tenure began with a 0-2 series loss against England in a four-match T20I series in May, marking a turbulent start for the South African coach, who did not get to lead the team in any ODI matches.

The PCB has not yet made an official announcement, and Kirsten has remained publicly silent on the matter. Meanwhile, potential internal replacements like Gillespie and Aaqib Javed are being considered to fill the position. Kirsten’s resignation is the second major leadership change in Pakistan’s cricket camp in recent weeks, following Mohammad Rizwan’s appointment as the new white-ball captain, replacing Babar Azam.

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read also: Mohammad Rizwan Named Pakistan’s New White-Ball Captain, Replacing Babar Azam; Salman Ali Agha Appointed as Deputy