Photo Credit: ESPNcricinfo
Former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten, who famously coached India to their 2011 World Cup victory, has resigned as Pakistan’s white-ball coach just six months into his two-year contract. Kirsten’s unexpected departure has faced criticism from former cricketers, with many questioning the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the situation.
Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja expressed disappointment, stating that Kirsten’s abrupt resignation has created a “hodgepodge” in Pakistan cricket. Kirsten stepped down just a week before Pakistan’s upcoming white-ball series against Australia, prompting the PCB to appoint Test coach Jason Gillespie as his replacement.
Ramiz remarked, “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.”
He further criticized the current state of Pakistan cricket, saying, “Right now, there’s a hodgepodge in Pakistan cricket. The selection committee is nominating the playing XI. I’m not too sure if this happens anywhere else in the world.”
He also noted the inevitable backlash from Kirsten’s resignation, emphasizing the importance of providing clarity regarding roles to those involved in Pakistan cricket.
“It’s not a straightforward situation because when someone like Gary Kirsten leaves the job, backlash is inevitable. People will speculate and want to know why he left. It’s not a great advertisement for Pakistan cricket. What you need is to ensure that, once you involve someone, you provide them with clarity regarding their role. I don’t know if that clarity was provided to Gary Kirsten. In the future, Pakistan may face challenges in hiring international talent due to Kirsten’s resignation. It’s not going to be an easy job to attract international coaches,” he added.
Pakistan recently secured a 2-1 Test series win against England and is scheduled to face Australia in three ODIs and three T20Is starting November 4. The ODIs will take place in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, while the T20Is will be hosted in Brisbane, Sydney, and Hobart.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
