Gary Kirsten resigns as Pakistan ODI and T20I coach Six months after taking the job

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Gary Kirsten has abruptly ended his tenure as the head coach of Pakistan's ODI and T20I teams, stepping down just days before the team's ODI series in Australia was set to commence.

Initially contracted for two years in April 2024, Kirsten's departure after a mere six months has sent ripples through the cricketing world.

His resignation marks a swift unravelling of events, particularly surprising given Kirsten's renowned coaching achievements, notably leading India to their first ODI World Cup title in nearly three decades.

The friction between Kirsten, fellow coach Jason Gillespie, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seemed to escalate following the PCB's decision to revoke selection powers from the coaches. PCB vested all the selection power to the selection committee, which was not taken well by Kirsten.

At the heart of the controversy was the PCB's sudden shift in the selection process, which notably excluded the coaches and captain from its decision-making. This change was highlighted by the appointment of a new selection panel composed of Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema, following Pakistan's defeat in the first Test against England.

The recent upheaval reached its peak with the announcement of Mohammad Rizwan as the new limited-overs captain, a decision made without Kirsten's involvement. PCB announced through a press conference with PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi along with the new captain Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Agha.

The 56-year-old was only at the Pakistan cricket helm during the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Pakistan suffered a group stage exit with losses against USA and India.