The sudden resignation of Gary Kirsten as head coach of the white-ball cricket team has prompted a warning from Ramiz Raja, the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
In April 2024, Kirsten was appointed by the cricket board for a two-year term. He did, however, leave the position on October 28 after only six months.
During Pakistan’s four-match T20I series against England in preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the South African took the lead.
Pakistan lost the series against England and were eliminated from the T20 World Cup group stage while he was the white-ball head coach.
Kirsten’s resignation, according to the sources, followed his arguments with the cricket board on central contracts and white-ball teams for the forthcoming tour of Australia and Zimbabwe.
Notably, in the past, the selection committee included voting members who were head coaches and captains of the various versions.
Nevertheless, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restructured the selection committee after Pakistan’s crushing loss to England in the first Test match, eliminating the coach and captain from the process. This did not sit well with Gary Kirsten.
In a statement to the media, Ramiz Raja predicted that the cricket board will have trouble in the future recruiting elite international coaches.
“Hiring international talent won’t be an easy, straightforward task for Pakistan, especially when you consider the kind of backlash that Gary Kirsten’s resignation is likely to cause,” Ramiz stated.
It is imperative that you provide clarity regarding the role to the person you have engaged and involved. Gary Kirsten may or may not have received that clarity.
Pakistan needed an experienced hand, therefore her departure is not good news. Just before a tour, it doesn’t appear very well from a distance.
