In a stunning turn of events, Gary Kirsten, Pakistan ‘s white-ball coach, has resigned just six months into his tenure. Jason Gillespie, Pakistan ‘s Test coach, has been appointed to coach the team on next month’s white-ball tour of Australia. 

“The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men’s cricket team on next month’s white-ball tour of Australia after Gary Kirsten submitted his resignation, which was accepted,” the PCB posted on ‘X’.

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Why did Gary Kirsten quit as Pakistan’s white-ball coach?

The reason behind his sudden departure is an alleged rift with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to reports, the cracks began to appear when the PCB handed over the responsibility of team selection solely to the recently appointed national selection committee, excluding the coaches and captains from the process. This move apparently didn’t sit well with Gary Kirsten, who was appointed in April this year.

The situation escalated when wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan was named Pakistan’s new white-ball captain without Gary Kirsten’s input. The South African coach was not even present in the country during Rizwan’s appointment announcement on Sunday.

The ESPNCricinfo report suggests that Gary Kirsten’s decision to quit stems from his disagreement with the PCB’s decision to withdraw selection powers from the coaches. 

Gary Kirsten, who led India to victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup , has not made a public statement yet but is expected to release one later today. His resignation comes as a surprise, and the PCB will now have to search for a new white-ball coach.

Also Read: PCB Brutally Slammed By Cricket Fans Post Jason Gillespie’s Appointment As PAK’s White-Ball Coach

Gary Kirsten took over as Pakistan’s new white-ball coach following his stint with Gujarat Titans in the IPL this year. His first assignment as the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team came during the T20 World Cup 2024 in June. Pakistan suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of India and the USA before being eliminated from the group stage of the tournament. But Kirsten was expected to turn things around before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the first ICC event to be held in Pakistan in more than three decades.