Under Gary Kirsten, India had won the 2011 ODI World Cup and reached the No 1 position on the ICC Test Team Rankings. (FILE photo from Express Archives)
Pakistan Cricket board has announced three key personal to take charge of the Pakistan men’s cricket team: Jason Gillespie will take charge of the Pakistan cricket team for the red-ball format while Gary Kirsten will manage the team in white-ball games. Meanwhile, Azhar Mahmood has also been confirmed as an assistant coach across all formats for the Pakistan men’s team.
The three appointments have been made for a two-year period following a recruitment process, PCS said in a press release.
Kirsten is currently in India as batting coach with the Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans. Under him, India had won the 2011 ODI World Cup and reached the No 1 position on the ICC Test Team Rankings. Kirsten takes charge of Pakistan at a crucial juncture: the next two years will see ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Kirsten also coached South Africa men’s cricket team from 2011-2013 and inspired them to No.1 position on the ICC Test Team Rankings. besides GT, he has worked with other IPL teams like Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Kirsten wants to prioritise continuity
Kirsten said he wanted to “prioritise continuity in team selections whenever possible”.
“My goal is to unite the Pakistan men’s white-ball team, harnessing their considerable talents towards a common objective, and achieving success together on the field. There’s always an inherent expectation for the team to perform at a high level consistently. As a coach, it’s immensely gratifying to assist players in unlocking their full potential. Understanding the current state of the team and charting a path towards our desired goals is paramount. Winning ICC Events, while challenging, remains a significant objective. Whether it’s the upcoming tournament in June or events in the future, achieving success in these competitions would be a remarkable feat. My primary objective is to ensure the team operates at its optimal level. Success on the field is contingent upon the team performing at its best. Consistency and continuity are values I hold dear. While player form fluctuations are inevitable, maintaining a stable environment is crucial. I am committed to supporting players through their ups and downs, prioritising continuity in selections whenever possible.”
Gillespie, meanwhile, will assume responsibilities for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh (at home in August), which will be followed by Tests against England (at home in October) and South Africa (away in December) in the 2024-25 season.
“I love Test cricket and being able to focus on that is something I like very much. I also love the fact that there is so much talent in Pakistan. I like to think that I can help in some way to grow and develop the players. I want to win Tests – that is why I am taking this role. I love winning and I know we have got the skill to make that happen. The ICC World Test Championship is the ultimate in the Test format. I understand this cycle is likely to prove too great a task as we would need to win a lot of matches in a short space of time to have any chance of making the final, but aspiring to be in that final, and to winning it, has to be a medium- to long-term goal for us.
“Ultimately, it is all about playing the style of cricket we want to play, one that helps us win matches, excites the public and puts smiles on the faces of everyone connected with Pakistan cricket. Within Pakistan we have a number of high-quality fast bowlers and being able to utilise them will be a key part of any success we enjoy. I understand there will be expectation and that comes with the role. All I can do is to take it in my stride and I would not have taken on the job if I did not think I could deal with it.”
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