Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday the appointment of Gary Kirsten, a World Cup-winning coach, as the head coach for ODIs and T20Is, while former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie will assume the same role for Test cricket. Additionally, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood was appointed as the assistant coach across all formats.
Addressing the media conference, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the significance of hiring high-profile coaches like Kirsten and Gillespie, emphasizing the value placed on the Pakistan cricket team and the potential recognized by foreign coaches in Pakistani players.
Kirsten is slated to take charge ahead of Pakistan’s tour of England commencing on May 22, which includes four T20Is, followed by participation in the T20 World Cup in June.
The appointment of a full-time head coach follows Pakistan’s search since their exit from the 50-over World Cup last year, where they failed to advance to the knockout stages. Subsequently, the entire coaching staff, including head coach Grant Bradburn, team director Mickey Arthur, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and batting coach Andrew Puttick, was dismissed.
Following a series of changes in leadership and coaching roles, Pakistan opted for Kirsten and Gillespie, overlooking other candidates such as Matthew Hayden and Shane Watson. Naqvi underscored the rationale behind this decision, citing the need for expertise from outside the country to address fitness issues and achieve optimal results.
The appointments of Kirsten and Gillespie, renowned for their coaching acumen and experience, signify a strategic move by PCB to enhance the team’s performance and competitiveness across all formats.
