End of an Era: Gary Kirsten's Stint as Pakistan's White-Ball Coach Comes to an End

Gary Kirsten, the former South Africa batter and World Cup-winning former coach of India, has ended his stint as the head coach of Pakistan Men's white-ball teams. Serious differences had surfaced between Kirsten and the players. Rumors suggest the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may have contributed to the tension, particularly with their refusal to approve Kirsten’s chosen High Performance coach, David Reid. The PCB instead suggested alternatives that were not up to Kirsten's liking.

Following Kirsten's departure, Jason Gillespie, the head coach of the Test team, will take over his charges. Also, the PCB unveiled Mohammad Rizwan as the new full-time white-ball captain. The decisions were announced just as the team is preparing for their upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe.

Kirsten's departure presents a significant challenge for the PCB with less than four months remaining before the Champions Trophy. The situation is far from ideal as Pakistan will also be hosting an ICC tournament for the first time in over two decades.

Kirsten joined Pakistan's white-ball team in mid-May, shortly after concluding his stint with the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His induction coincided with a difficult period for the team, including a series loss to England and unexpected setbacks in the T20 World Cup. The team faces continuing difficulties and will need to rally quickly under the new leadership.