Kirsten Exposes Reasons for Early Exit as Pakistan’s White-Ball Coach

Gary Kirsten, the former South African cricketer and well-known coach, has revealed the factors that led to his premature departure as Pakistan’s white-ball coach. He pointed to a deficiency in authority and internal conflicts within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

During an interview on the Wisden Cricket Patreon Podcast, Kirsten explained that his responsibilities were diminished by being left out of the team selection procedure, which hampered his capability to have a considerable positive effect.

“The past months were indeed turbulent. I quickly came to the conclusion that my influence would be minimal. Once I was excluded from selection and tasked with managing a team without the ability to shape it, it became difficult for me to positively impact the group,” Kirsten stated.

Kirsten’s appointment as Pakistan’s white-ball coach occurred in April 2024, alongside Jason Gillespie, who was named the Test coach.

However, both coaches experienced shortened terms. Kirsten resigned after only six months, soon after the PCB revealed squads for the ODI and T20I tours of Australia and Zimbabwe—without involving either him or Gillespie in the selection process.

Gillespie also stepped down before the South Africa Test series in December, reportedly disheartened after the board dismissed high-performance coach Tim Nielsen. He later acknowledged that the situation left a “sour taste” in his coaching career.

Despite the disheartening experience, Kirsten has not dismissed the possibility of coaching Pakistan in the future, provided the conditions are suitable.

He also suggested that external meddling and a scarcity of cricketing independence were central to the problems.

“If I were to receive an invitation to return to Pakistan tomorrow, I would accept, but I would do so for the sake of the players and under the appropriate conditions,” he remarked.

“Cricket teams need to be managed by cricket experts. When this is not the case, and when there is substantial influential external interference, it becomes challenging for team leaders to follow a path that they believe is necessary to guide the team to its desired destination.

“Should I be invited back tomorrow, I would go—but solely for the players and only if the situation is right,” he stated. “I am too old now to deal with other motives. My sole focus is to coach a cricket team and collaborate with the players. I have great affection for the Pakistan players—they are wonderful individuals. During my brief tenure with them, I sensed the immense strain they endure. Their defeats deeply affect them, and they feel the pressure intensely.”

Following Kirsten’s resignation, former pacer Aaqib Javed took on the role of interim head coach. He has since been succeeded by New Zealand’s Mike Hesson, who is now in charge of Pakistan’s white-ball teams. Currently, the red-ball coaching position remains unfilled.

Kirsten concluded by reiterating that success with any talented team hinges on minimal external interference.

“I am too experienced to concern myself with hidden agendas; my ambition is to coach a cricket team and devote my energy to the players – I respect the Pakistan players; they are outstanding individuals. My tenure with them was fleeting, yet I empathize with their situation. More than any other global team, they acutely feel the burden of performance, and defeat impacts them profoundly.

“However, they are professional cricketers, and I am a skilled cricket coach. Within such settings, specific measures are routinely implemented to elevate a team to its utmost potential, and when interference is absent, progress is smooth, generally culminating in success for a skilled group.”