Pakistan were the finalists of the last T20 World Cup (2022) and have an excellent record in the event, reaching the semifinals in six of the eight editions.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has put on another masterclass! A masterclass in how not to run cricket. There is not even a month left before the T20 World Cup 2024 starts, and the Men in Green still don’t have a designated T20I coach. Their pick for the role, Gary Kirsten, is currently coaching the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2024 and won’t be available until May 19 at least.
Kirsten is already going to miss the 3-match Ireland series and could miss the first two Pakistan vs England T20Is as well. Kirsten was hired as Pakistan’s white-ball coach just a week ago, but given his existing contract with LSG, he couldn’t join Babar Azam and co.
The virtual coach saga continues
Instead, he will coach the team virtually. The idea of a virtual coach should frighten Pakistani cricket fans. Just last year, Mickey Arthur was brought in as a virtual coach as he decided to continue his role as Derbyshire’s head of cricket. A year later, PCB stands at the same spot, albeit with a different coach.
When will Gary Kirsten join Pakistan?
The Lucknow Super Giants are currently placed third on the IPL 2024 points table and will likely go through the playoffs. If they’ll qualify, the KL Rahul-led side would either play the Qualifier I on May 21 or the Eliminator on May 22 (same day as Pakistan vs England 1st T20I).
If they make it to Qualifier II on May 24, he’ll probably miss the 2nd T20I on May 25 as well, and if Lucknow reaches the IPL Final, he could miss the 3rd T20I on May 28 as well. This means Pakistan’s new coach, Gary Kirsten, will have a total of one week of experience coaching the team before they play their first T20 World Cup 2024 match on June 6.
Pakistan Cricket
Pakistan’s schedule before T20 World Cup 2024
Pakistan vs Ireland (3-match T20I series):
- May 10th: 1st T20I in Dublin (7:00 PM PST)
- May 12th: 2nd T20I in Dublin (7:00 PM PST)
- May 14th: 3rd T20I in Dublin (7:00 PM PST)
Pakistan vs England (4-match T20I series):
- May 22nd: 1st T20I in Leeds (10:30 PM PST)
- May 25th: 2nd T20I in Birmingham (6:30 PM PST)
- May 28th: 3rd T20I in Cardiff (10:30 PM PST)
- May 30th: 4th T20I at The Oval, London (10:30 PM PST)
Editors pick
