Kirsten resigns as Pakistan coach

Gary Kirsten has resigned as the head coach of Pakistan's ODI and T20I sides with immediate effect. Kirsten, who was appointed by the PCB on a two-year contract in April 2024, lasted barely six months in the role, and has stepped down hardly a week before Pakistan's ODI series begins in Australia.

There had been a rift developing between Pakistan's newly-appointed coaches, Kirsten and Gillespie, and the PCB since the board decided to strip them off selection powers, with that authority exclusively the preserve of a selection committee they would no longer be a part of. Gillespie had made little effort to conceal his surprise at the events in the build-up to the third Test in Rawalpindi against England, saying he was now just a "match-day analyst", and that "it wasn't what I signed up for."

Kirsten did not make a public statement, but was understood to be disappointed with the recent developments. ESPNcricinfo has learnt part of the delay in announcing a squad and new limited-overs captain was down to animated discussions within the board, with Kirsten keen to have his input taken into consideration. Ultimately, though, when the new captain Mohammad Rizwan was announced at a press conference in Lahore, board chairman Mohsin Naqvi was flanked only by Aaqib Javed, a member of the new selection committee, and the new captain and vice-captain Salman Agha. Kirsten was not even in the country at the time. The coaches have felt sidelined by the rise in influence of the current selection committee. After Pakistan lost the first Test against England, a new selection panel - a third in three months - was announced. Aaqib, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Hassan Cheema were on it, while the coaches and captain were taken off.

Dar was considered the original architect of the idea behind preparing a recycled surface for the second Test in Multan - which Pakistan went on to win - while Aaqib became the public face of the overhaul. It even led new white-ball captain Rizwan at one point to remark during the Test that Pakistan were now playing "Aaqib-ball".

The departure of Kirsten, and the speed with which things have unravelled, is little short of stunning, even for Pakistan cricket. It means, for one, that Kirsten departs from his role without having coached Pakistan in a single ODI, the format where he achieved his greatest coaching success. Pakistan spent the best part of three months in the hunt for what Naqvi called "the best in class" coaches for the team, with several high-profile candidates, including Shane Watson and Daren Sammy, sounded out. Ultimately, they settled on Kirsten, who led India to a first ODI World Cup title in 28 years, for the white-ball format, with Naqvi saying it was a "remarkable opportunity for our players to glean insights from these seasoned professionals".

Kirsten's first major tournament was the T20 World Cup in the USA, an inauspicious beginning to his coaching stint. Defeats against USA and India led to Pakistan's earliest elimination from a T20 World Cup, with the side knocked out in the first round after three games. Babar Azam would quit as white-ball captain for the second time a few months later. But it was believed then that Kirsten needed time to get his feet under the table and develop a side, particularly with a home ICC Champions Trophy in early 2025, the first ICC event Pakistan host in nearly three decades.

Gillespie to the rescue:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that Jason Gillespie will serve as head coach for the men's cricket team during the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, following Gary Kirsten's resignation. Kirsten, who stepped down citing irreconcilable differences with the PCB, saw his resignation formally accepted earlier today.

Gillespie's appointment comes at a critical time as Pakistan prepares for three ODIs and three T20Is against Australia starting on November 4 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This tour will serve as vital preparation for Pakistan's ICC Champions Trophy campaign next year. Gillespie, who joined the coaching team with Kirsten earlier this year, will now lead Pakistan's efforts on Australian soil.

The PCB is expected to issue a formal statement addressing the circumstances of Kirsten's departure, as well as details on Gillespie's expanded responsibilities during the tour. The first batch of players will depart for Melbourne on October 28, with the rest of the squad following on October 29.