LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday announced the cricket board’s decision to bring in South Africa’s Gary Kirsten and Australia’s Jason Gillespie as the coaches for the men’s national team’s white-ball and red-ball coaches respectively.
Kirsten, hailing from South Africa, has represented his nation in 101 Tests and 185 ODIs from 1993 to 2004. His illustrious career saw him amass 14,087 runs, including 34 centuries.
On the other hand, Jason Gillespie, a former Australian fast bowler, is no stranger to the rigors of international cricket. With 71 Tests, 97 ODIs, and one T20I to his name, Gillespie’s impressive career yielded a total of 402 wickets.
Moreover, Pakistan’s former cricketer Azhar Mahmood, who recently served as the team’s head coach during the T20I series against New Zealand, will now serve as assistant coach for both white-ball and red-ball formats. The appointments of Kirsten and Gillespie come after the positions were left vacant following the reassignment of Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, and Andrew Puttick to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore in November 2023.
During a press conference held in Lahore, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed confidence in the newly appointed coaches, citing their impressive track records and expertise as assets that will guide Pakistani players to new heights.
Addressing concerns regarding language barriers with foreign coaches, Naqvi affirmed that the purpose of bringing in international talent is to enhance the team’s performance and that language proficiency can be acquired as needed.
In terms of team leadership, Naqvi confirmed that Babar Azam will continue to lead the national side until the Champions Trophy 2025, with the tournament set to be hosted by Pakistan. The PCB has already communicated the schedule of the Champions Trophy to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Meanwhile, regarding recent controversies surrounding the handling of pacer Ishanullah’s elbow injury, Naqvi stated that the cricketer’s medical report will be available soon, and appropriate action will be taken against any negligence identified.
The new coaching duo is expected to join the team in upcoming tours, with Kirsten slated to accompany the team on the England tour, while Gillespie will join the squad during the Bangladesh series.
