NEW DELHI: Gary Kirsten’s short tenure as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach appears to be coming to an abrupt end, just a day after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named Mohammad Rizwan as the new full-time white-ball captain and announced fresh central contracts. While there has been no official statement from the PCB, reports suggest Kirsten will not be traveling with the team for their upcoming tour of Australia and Zimbabwe.
According to Cricbuzz, serious differences have emerged between Kirsten and the players, as well as disagreements with the PCB over coaching staff decisions. Kirsten had reportedly requested the appointment of David Reid as High Performance coach, a suggestion that did not align with the PCB’s preferences, leading to tensions. The board allegedly proposed alternatives, which Kirsten found unacceptable.
Kirsten, who did not respond to inquiries from Cricbuzz, is unlikely to join the team as Pakistan’s 15-member ODI squad departs for Australia on Monday. It is also unclear whether Kirsten’s departure is definitive, but he is not expected to travel to Zimbabwe for the three ODIs and three T20Is scheduled after the Australia series.
Kirsten’s tenure, which began in May following his role with Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been marred by a lack of success on the field. Pakistan lost a bilateral series in England and suffered a disappointing early exit in the T20 World Cup, with losses to the United States and India derailing their campaign.
With the ICC Champions Trophy less than four months away and Pakistan set to host an international tournament for the first time in over two decades, the PCB faces the urgent task of appointing a new white-ball coach.
Speculation suggests that Jason Gillespie, Pakistan’s red-ball coach, could temporarily take over both formats. However, Aaqib Javed, a former fast bowler and current national selector, is seen as the frontrunner for the position. Javed is credited with the team’s recent success in the home Test series against England, which Pakistan won 2-1.
An official announcement is expected soon as the PCB navigates this challenging coaching situation ahead of a critical period for Pakistan cricket.
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