A day after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Mohammad Rizwan as the new captain for white-ball cricket, head coach Gary Kirsten resigned from his role. According to ESPNcricinfo, Kirsten was reportedly dissatisfied with recent PCB decisions, particularly the lack of input afforded to coaches and captains. The board has shifted significant decision-making power to the selection committee, sidelining other influential figures within the team.
Kirsten, who is currently outside Pakistan, had hoped to contribute to key decisions like team selection and the choice of captain, especially given his vast coaching experience. His frustration likely stemmed from feeling excluded under the new selection policies, ultimately prompting him to step down.
Gary Kirsten, who famously led India to a World Cup title in 2011, didn’t get the chance to coach Pakistan in any ODI, as his initial assignment was meant to be the T20 World Cup 2024 in the U.S. and the Caribbean. Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament after losses to India and hosts USA left him with little to accomplish during his short stint.
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As Pakistan gears up for a packed schedule, they now face the challenge of finding a replacement for Kirsten ahead of their upcoming limited-overs series against Australia and Zimbabwe. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has stepped up as Pakistan’s new white-ball captain, succeeding Babar Azam, with Salman Ali Agha appointed vice-captain for ODIs and T20Is.
🚨GARY KIRSTEN RESIGNS 🚨
This is absolutely Chaotic and Disgraceful. An Honest and Professional World Cup Winning Coach like GARY KIRSTEN has been FORCED to Resign by the Mafia in PCB who used their Journalists in Media to do Propaganda against Kirsten. The CHAPLOS Culture won… pic.twitter.com/inFkJwRhj1
— Faisal Khan (@faisal7y) October 28, 2024
The tour of Australia, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is, will be Rizwan’s first assignment as captain, starting with the ODI opener in Melbourne on November 4. The Zimbabwe tour, set from November 24 to December 5, includes three ODIs and three T20Is. To manage Rizwan’s workload, Agha will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe. Babar Azam, along with pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, will rejoin the squad for the Australia series after missing recent Tests but will rest for the Zimbabwe leg.
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The PCB also made notable changes to the roster for these tours, omitting seasoned players like Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, while giving opportunities to new faces. The reshuffled leadership and roster signal a fresh approach, though Kirsten’s resignation raises questions about the stability of Pakistan’s cricketing strategy in the months ahead.
