South African Gary Kirsten is one solid coach. After hanging his boots from international cricket, the southpaw first got a chance to coach the Indian cricket team in 2008, and then famously, led them to the 2011 World Cup win as well. From there on, he went on to coach the Proteas as well till 2013, for close to two years.
Since then, he has been associated with various leagues and franchises all over the world, more popularly with the Hobart Hurricanes in BBL (2017-18), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2017-19), and now the Gujarat Titans (since 2022), as the batting coach. Looking at his credentials as the head, any team would want to hire his services, and now Team Pakistan has roped him in.
Kirsten has been appointed Pakistan’s white-ball coach, while Jason Gillespie has taken over as the Tests coach. But now one only wonders, what happens to his existing IPL contract?
Tough to Keep Both Jobs in India & Pakistan
Given the situation between both India & Pakistan, it would not be easy for Kirsten to keep both jobs simultaneously. Also, when the IPL season is on, generally the Pakistani team plays bilateral series’, since they do not play in the BCCI-organised tournament. So, in short he would have to make a call between coaching in India or coaching in Pakistan.
More on PAK
Generally speaking, the BCCI has managed to offer more lucrative offers to the coaches, and that has been a point of consideration for most foreign coaches. More recently, despite being offered a huge chunk of money, Aussie Shane Watson declined the offer to coach Pakistan cricket team.
Treatment Meted Out to Foreign Coaches in Pakistan
Pakistan hasn’t been happy hunting ground for foreign coaches, at least in the last few years. Grant Bradburn and Mickey Arthur were sent to the NCA, following the Pakistani team’s poor performance at the World Cup 2023. Eventually the duo quit. So job security would certainly be on Kirsten’s mind as well.
Kirsten Might End IPL Association After All
But with Kirsten having taken up the PAK job already, it means that he won’t be associated with the IPL anymore. Although there is no official statement on the same, but GT would have to start looking for a new batting coach soon.
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