The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the appointment of Muhammad Yousuf as the interim head coach and Abdul Razzaq as the assistant coach for the upcoming home T20 series against New Zealand later this month. This decision comes amidst ongoing negotiations with foreign coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie for long-term coaching roles.
According to reports, discussions with Gillespie are nearing completion, with an agreement in place for him to take over as the head coach for red-ball cricket. However, negotiations with Kirsten are still ongoing, as he is currently occupied with commitments in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The report further states that Gillespie has agreed to certain terms regarding his remuneration and availability in Pakistan. He is expected to join the team after the T20 World Cup, when Pakistan resumes their World Test Championship campaign against Bangladesh, England, and South Africa.
When will Gary Kirsten take up the helm?
It’s anticipated that Kirsten will assume the role of the white-ball format coach once the arrangements are finalized. In light of the imminent T20 series against New Zealand starting on April 18th, the PCB has entrusted Yousuf and Razzaq with coaching responsibilities for the team.
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The fate of bowling coaches Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal is yet to be determined, although they are likely to remain part of the support staff. Both Yousuf and Razzaq also serve on the new selection committee of the PCB.
Furthermore, the PCB has advertised for the position of assistant coach, aiming to integrate this role with Kirsten and Gillespie’s coaching setups, serving as a liaison between the support staff for both formats.
Additionally, interviews have been conducted for the role of Pakistan team manager, marking the first time such a position has been advertised by the PCB.