Due to a “rift” with the PCB, Gary Kirsten resigns as Pakistan’s white-ball coach.

In April 2024, the PCB signed a two-year contract with the former South African cricket player to serve as white-ball head coach.

Pakistan is scheduled to travel to Australia for a three-match ODI series starting on November 4, therefore the departure of South African icon Garry Kirsten comes at a critical moment.

Following Kirsten’s departure, Jason Gillespie was named as the temporary white-ball head coach for the Australia trip by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men’s cricket team during their white-ball tour of Australia next month, the Pakistan Cricket Board stated today in a post on X, following Gary Kirsten’s resignation, which was accepted.

Kirsten quit as head coach, but why?
Before the incident, sources said that there was a divide between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the country’s recently hired coaches, Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten. The coaching team’s decision to be stripped of selection authority by the board is the source of the tension.

According to several sources, Kirsten is unhappy with the change despite her public silence. The growing power of the present selection committee, especially in selection talks and captaincy decisions, makes him feel marginalized.

According to a source, the coaching staff was brought in to inject new life into Pakistan’s cricket team, but their roles have been curtailed by the PCB’s decision.

Notably, a new selection panel—the third in three months—was appointed following Pakistan’s defeat in the opening Test match of England. Hassan Cheema, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Aaqib were on it, and the captain and coaches were removed.

Soon, the PCB is expected to make an official announcement about Garry Kirsten’s resignation.

The 2024–25 international season’s central contracts and the teams for the travels to Australia and Zimbabwe were revealed by the PCB on Sunday.

While Fakhar Zaman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, and Iftikhar Ahmed were dropped, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) added up to 25 players to the central contract list.

According to the accounts, Kirsten voiced his conflicts with the squads.

In addition, the cricket board named wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s white-ball team’s captain in advance of the forthcoming visits to Australia and Zimbabwe.

The Pakistani team for Australia
Mohammad Rizwan (c) (wk), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (vc), and Shaheen Shah Afridi comprise the ODI playing team.

Mohammad Rizwan (c) (wk), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Jahandad Khan, Irfan Khan, Muhammad, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan comprise the T20I team.