Pakistan Cricket Board announced that Gary Kirsten will manage the team in white-ball games. Gary Kirsten is a seasoned cricket coach and a World Cup winner with India. Gary Kirsten is a highly acclaimed cricket coach known for his successful stints with various international teams. He notably guided India to victory in the 2011 Cricket World Cup and has also coached the South African national team. Kirsten is currently in India as a batting coach with the Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans.
Pakistan enters the 2024 T20 World Cup with one title under its belt, having won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2009. Currently ranked 5th in the T20 Internationals according to the ICC rankings, Pakistan will look forward to strengthening the team in every way possible starting with the announcement of three key personal to take charge of the Pakistan men’s cricket team.
Pakistan Cricket Board Announcement
The three appointments have been made for two years following a recruitment process, PCS said in a press release.
According to the announcement of the Pakistan Cricket Board, three important individuals will lead the Pakistan men’s cricket team. Jason Gillespie will lead the Pakistan cricket team for Test matches. At the same time, Gary Kirsten will oversee the team for limited-overs games, with Azhar Mahmood as an assistant coach across all formats for the Pakistan men’s team.
Gary Kirsten takes charge of the team at a very crucial time as the team over the next two years will compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, the ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025, and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
What Gary Kirsten Has Said
According to Gary Kirsten, his priority is to maintain continuity in team selections.
“My goal is to unite the Pakistan men’s white-ball team, harnessing their considerable talents towards a common objective, and achieving success together on the field. There’s always an inherent expectation for the team to perform at a high level consistently,” said Gary Kirsten.
As a coach, it’s immensely gratifying to assist players in unlocking their full potential. Understanding the current state of the team and charting a path towards our desired goals is paramount. Winning ICC Events, while challenging, remains a significant objective. Whether it’s the upcoming tournament in June or events in the future, achieving success in these competitions would be a remarkable feat,” he stated.
“My primary objective is to ensure the team operates at its optimal level. Success on the field is contingent upon the team performing at its best. Consistency and continuity are values I hold dear. While player form fluctuations are inevitable, maintaining a stable environment is crucial. I am committed to supporting players through their ups and downs, prioritising continuity in selections whenever possible,” he added.
In Charge Of Red-Ball Format
Pakistan has shaken things up by appointing separate coaches for red-ball and white-ball cricket. Jason Gillespie, the former Australian fast bowler, is now in charge of the red-ball format. This means he’ll be the head coach for Test matches, focusing on strategies and player development specifically for the longer format of the game.
Gillespie has responsibilities for the ICC World Test Championship against Bangladesh in August, followed by Tests against England in October and South Africa in December in the 2024-25 season.
“I love Test cricket and being able to focus on that is something I like very much. I also love the fact that there is so much talent in Pakistan. I like to think that I can help in some way to grow and develop the players. I want to win Tests – that is why I am taking this role,”
“I love winning and I know we have got the skill to make that happen. The ICC World Test Championship is the ultimate in the Test format. I understand this cycle is likely to prove too great a task as we would need to win a lot of matches in a short space of time to have any chance of making the final, but aspiring to be in that final, and to winning it, has to be a medium- to long-term goal for us.” Gillespie added.