The Pakistan Cricket Board made a significant announcement on Tuesday, revealing that Gary Kirsten would commence his two-year tenure as the white-ball head coach of the national men’s side in Leeds on 19 May ahead of the four-match T20I series against England at Headingley on 22 May.
With Gujarat Titans out of the IPL 2024 playoffs, Kirsten will finish his IPL assignments before joining Babar Azam and Co. The Shubman Gill-led side will play their final match on May 16th against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Following this series, Pakistan will participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where they will face the hosts in their opener in Dallas on 6 June.
Gary Kirsten appointed as new Pakistan head coach
Gary Kirsten, the 56-year-old South African, was appointed as the white-ball head coach alongside Jason Gillespie, who will serve as the red-ball head coach. Gillespie is slated to join Pakistan in July for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh in August.
Expressing his excitement about the new role, Gary Kirsten stated, “I’m truly excited to embark on this new journey with the Pakistan men’s cricket team. It’s an honor to coach such a talented and dynamic team, and I’m eager to contribute to their success on the international stage.”
Kirsten emphasized the significance of collective effort, meticulous planning, and unwavering support for each other in achieving success. He acknowledged the competitive landscape of international cricket and stressed the need for consistent performance to realize Pakistan’s aspirations.
Kirsten with lots of assignments ahead
Beyond the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and upcoming bilateral white-ball series, Kirsten’s coaching duties extend to major tournaments such as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and the ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025.
He added, “On a personal level, I’ve missed the experience of coaching at the international level and nurturing talented players to reach their full potential. I’m committed to working closely with the team to elevate their game and bring joy to fans around the world.”
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Gujarat Titans eliminated from IPL 2024
The Gujarat Titans’ final home game of the IPL 2024 could not be played owing to severe weather, which prompted the cancellation of their match against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday.
As a consequence, Shubman Gill-led Gujarat, who won the IPL in their maiden season in 2022, were eliminated from the playoff race, ensuring a top-two finish for table-toppers Kolkata, who remain the only team to have already qualified for the next stage. Thus, freeing batting coach Gary Kisten to take up the new job earlier than anticipated.
Gujarat has won five of their 13 games and now ranks eighth in the points standings with 11 points. Gujarat, along with Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings, are out of the title chase.
