After months of turmoil in Pakistan cricket, Kirsten will be in charge in the limited-overs format and Gillespie in Tests.
Former South African batsman and coach Gary Kirsten has been appointed as head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team in limited-overs cricket ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, with former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie joining the Test squad. was appointed head coach.
The announcement at the PCB headquarters in Lahore comes after Pakistan finished fifth in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 held in India and missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals. The announcement came after several months of turmoil at the board of directors, which had undergone changes.
Kirsten led India to their second World Cup victory in 2011, coached several times in club and franchise cricket, and also coached the South African men’s team.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday that Gillespie, who played 71 Tests and 91 One Day Internationals (ODIs), will take over as the team’s manager with immediate effect.
“I really want Pakistan to play the way we play,” Gillespie told Al Jazeera shortly before he was appointed.
The tall pacer, known as Dizzy, said the team wanted it to be “real and authentic”.
“Entertain the fans with a little fun and play with a smile on your face,” Gillespie said.
The 49-year-old will assume the role immediately.
Grant Bradburn resigned as Pakistan’s head coach in January, two months after the World Cup, followed by team director Mickey Arthur and batting coach Andrew Putic.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez replaced Bradburn and Arthur as head coach and team director after the team’s unsuccessful tour of Australia and New Zealand. Pakistan faced world champions Australia in the Test series and lost 3-0, and in the T20 series they faced New Zealand and lost 4-1.
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Gillespie made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1996, becoming the first player of Aboriginal descent to represent Australia in cricket’s longest form.
Despite being plagued by injuries, Gillespie averaged 259 casualties off 26 in Tests, making him the sixth highest wicket-taker in the country.
Prior to his appointment as Yorkshire’s head coach, Gillespie was also the bowling coach for Indian Premier League side Kings XI Punjab, where he spent two seasons towards the end of his playing career.
One of Gillespie’s greatest moments was when he scored an unbeaten 201 against Bangladesh in the second Test in 2006. The right-hander, who joined the team as a night watchman at the age of three, batted for 574 minutes and completed 425 deliveries, contributing to the set. He took eight wickets in a one-inning and 80-run victory in a 2–0 series win and was named player of the series.
