In an unprecedented move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday that former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie will take over as head coach for Test cricket, while World Cup winner Gary Kirsten will coach the ODI and T20I teams. Kirsten has previously had successful stints with both South Africa and India; his 2011 OD World Cup victory with the MS Dhoni-led team was undoubtedly the high point.
Kirsten’s huge task at hand
Kirsten’s first assignment will be helping Pakistan lift their second T20 World Cup trophy in the USA and West Indies. Ahead of the gala tournament, Kirsten revealed his plans for the Pakistan team.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Pakistan men’s national team in white-ball cricket and to rejoin the international cricket arena after some time. I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to contribute positively to the Pakistan men’s national team in limited-overs cricket,” Kirsten said.
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‘Goal is to unite’
“One of the beautiful aspects of cricket is its universality. Across cultures, there’s a shared understanding when we discuss the game. My goal is to unite the Pakistan men’s white-ball team, harnessing their considerable talents towards a common objective, and achieving success together on the field,” he added.