What was supposed to be a fresh chapter for Gary Kirsten with Pakistan cricket quickly turned into a short and turbulent journey.
Appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board in April 2024 on a two-year contract, Gary Kirsten took charge as head coach of Pakistan’s ODI and T20I teams. However, his stint lasted only about six months. He stepped down abruptly, just a week before Pakistan’s ODI series in Australia.
Following his exit, Test coach Jason Gillespie was asked to temporarily handle the white-ball teams during the Australia tour, managing six matches. Interestingly, Jason Gillespie also parted ways with the setup a few months later.
Looking back, Gary Kirsten shared that the biggest challenge he faced was the constant interference from the board in team matters. He found the level of outside involvement unusually high, something he had never ever experienced before in his coaching career.
He explained that such an environment made it extremely difficult to build a clear plan and work closely with players. There was always pressure from outside voices, along with strict reactions to poor performances, which created instability within the team.
Gary Kirsten also pointed out a common pattern in cricket, when results do not go well, coaches are often the first to be blamed or restricted, as they are the easiest targets. In his view, this approach is not helpful and can harm the progress of the team.
In the end, what began as a promising role turned into a frustrating experience, leading to Gary Kirsten’s early exit from Pakistan cricket.
