Former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten, who famously guided India to their 2011 World Cup victory, has stepped down as Pakistan’s white-ball coach just six months into a two-year contract. His unexpected resignation has sparked criticism from former cricketers, many of whom are holding the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accountable for the situation. Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja expressed his disappointment, labeling Kirsten’s abrupt departure as creating a “hodgepodge” in Pakistan cricket.
Kirsten resigned only a week before Pakistan’s upcoming white-ball series against Australia, prompting the PCB to appoint Test coach Jason Gillespie as his replacement. “It’s not good news because Pakistan needed an experienced hand like Gary Kirsten. I don’t have inside information, but from a distance, it doesn’t look great to lose your coach right before the start of a tour,” Ramiz stated.
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He continued, “Right now, there’s a hodgepodge in Pakistan cricket. The selection committee is determining the playing XI, and I’m not sure this happens anywhere else in the world.” The situation is complicated, as the departure of a high-profile coach like Kirsten invites speculation and raises questions about the circumstances of his exit. Ramiz emphasized that it reflects poorly on Pakistan cricket, highlighting the importance of providing clarity to coaches regarding their roles. He noted, “I don’t know if that clarity was provided to Gary Kirsten. In the future, Pakistan may struggle to attract international talent due to his resignation. It’s not going to be easy to bring in international coaches.”
Recently, Pakistan achieved a 2-1 Test series victory against England and is scheduled to face Australia in three ODIs and three T20Is, starting November 4.