“I quickly realized that as Pakistan’s coach, I wouldn’t have much influence,” said Gary Kirsten.
It’s been seven months since Gary Kirsten resigned as the limited-overs coach of Pakistan’s cricket team. Now, for the first time, the South African coach has opened up about why he stepped down abruptly after just six months without coaching a single ODI.
In April 2024, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named Kirsten as the white-ball coach alongside Test coach Jason Gillespie, with a two-year contract. But in October, just a day after announcing the squad for the Australia and Zimbabwe tours, Kirsten resigned.
After a new selection committee took charge, both coaches were removed from the selection process, prompting Gillespie to express public surprise and disappointment. Kirsten remained silent at the time, though reports suggested he was deeply unhappy.
On the Wisden Cricket Patreon Podcast, the 57-year-old Kirsten revealed that the lack of authority as white-ball coach forced his resignation.
“There were a few turbulent months. I very quickly realized that I wouldn’t have much influence (as a coach). When I was removed from the selection process and couldn’t shape the team, it became very difficult for me to have any positive impact on the side as a coach.”
Asked if he would consider coaching Pakistan again, Kirsten said he would, but with some conditions.
“If tomorrow I get an invitation to go back to Pakistan, I would go. But I want to go for the players and in the right circumstances.”
“Cricket teams need to be run by people from cricket. When that doesn’t happen and there’s a lot of interference from outside, it becomes very hard for team leaders to function. At my age, I want to focus on coaching just one cricket team and working with the players. I like Pakistan’s players—they are wonderful young men. I just had very little time with them.”
About six weeks after Kirsten’s resignation, Gillespie also stepped down as Test coach. PCB then appointed former pacer Aqib Javed as interim coach.
Later, Gillespie accused Aqib of undermining him and Kirsten behind the scenes to take over coaching duties, calling Aqib a “puppet” in direct criticism.
Recently, PCB replaced Aqib with New Zealand’s former successful coach Mike Hesson as the white-ball coach. At present, Pakistan does not have a red-ball coach.
