The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set for a significant leadership change with the potential appointment of South African Gary Kirsten and Australian Jason Gillespie as coaches for the men’s national team.
Split Coaching in Pakistan Cricket Team
As per Geo News, the PCB reportedly plans to assign distinct coaching roles, with Gary Kirsten taking charge of the white-ball format (ODIs and T20Is) while Gillespie guides the team in red-ball cricket (Tests). This strategic move aims to provide specialized expertise for each format.
Gary Kirsten is also the former India coach who led Men in Blue to a memorable 2011 World Cup win. Gary Kirsten is currently the batting coach of Gujarat Titans in Indian Premier League.
Formal Announcement Awaits by PCB
While an official announcement is still pending, the appointments are expected to be finalized once formalities are completed. The delay is likely due to the PCB recently advertising coaching positions on their website, with applications closing on April 15th.
Gary Kirsten, Jason Gillespie: Timing the Change
This coaching overhaul comes just ahead of Pakistan’s T20I series against New Zealand starting on April 18th. More importantly, it aims to provide stability and leadership before the crucial T20 World Cup scheduled for June in the United States and West Indies.
Filling the Void
These coaching positions became vacant after Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, and Andrew Puttick were reassigned to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore. This restructuring occurred in November 2023 as part of a wider PCB leadership change. The trio officially left their NCA roles in January of this year.
Arthur, Bradburn, and Puttick’s Previous Roles
Previously, Arthur held the position of Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team in April 2023. Bradburn served as head coach for the national team, while Puttick contributed as a batting coach since April 2023.
More news about Pakistan Cricket Team:
Assistant Coach Search Underway for Pakistan Cricket Team
The PCB has also opened applications for an assistant coach position, with a deadline set for April 20th. The ideal candidate will possess a minimum Level II coaching accreditation and at least three years of experience working with an international team, franchise, or domestic setup.
This revamped coaching structure, with experienced figures like Kirsten and Gillespie at the helm, signifies the PCB’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s performance across all formats of cricket.
Editors pick
