Former India coach, Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the head coach of Pakistan’s men’s white-ball teams. His appointment comes at a critical time for Pakistan, as the next two years are packed with major tournaments. Kirsten’s first big task will be guiding Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in the U.S. and West Indies in June.
Gary Kirsten ‘watching’ Pakistan in between IPL 2024
Currently, Kirsten is in India, serving as the batting coach for the Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans. His new role with Pakistan will officially start after the IPL season wraps up. Despite his current commitment to GT, Kirsten is already engaged with the Pakistan team.
He explained that he’s in constant communication with interim head coach Azhar Mahmood, who is overseeing the team until he takes over. Kirsten said, ” It just so happened that I am on an assignment. So, it was difficult to move away., I’ve got to see my contract out here. But the plans are already in place. Azhar Mahmood as interim head coach is doing a great job. We are communicating at the moment. I’m getting to understand the team and how they’re playing. I’m watching them play, which is great.’
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Azhar Mahmood to lead in his absence
Kirsten acknowledges the challenge of managing from a distance but believes that Mahmood’s leadership will keep things on track. “I don’t want to lead from a distance because I don’t think that that is a healthy space to be in. It’s difficult actually, but we are doing the best we can,” he added. Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood will assist him in his endeavours.
With the T20 World Cup approaching, Kirsten knows that he needs to hit the ground running once he joins Pakistan. “It is going to be a quick turnaround (for me), there’s no doubt, we just have to accept that,” he said. However, he remains optimistic about building a cohesive team and providing the players with the clarity they need for the upcoming tournament.
In hiring Kirsten, Pakistan gains an experienced coach who played a pivotal role in leading India to victory in the 2011 50-over World Cup. He has also had coaching stints in the IPL and with South Africa’s national team.
