Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten as the national men’s cricket team’s head coaches.
Kirsten will be the white ball head coach, while Gillespie will coach the red ball team.
Azhar Mahmood will be the assistant coach for all formats.
The South African Kirsten w as a member of the South Africa side that won the ICC Knock-Out Trophy 1998 (now known as ICC Champions Trophy); played in three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups from 1996 to 2003
He coached India from 2008-2011 and helped them to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2011 title as well as No.1 position on the ICC Test Team Rankings
Kirsten also coached South Africa men’s cricket team from 2011-2013 and inspired them to No.1 position on the ICC Test Team Rankings.
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He also coached the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. he is currently batting coach and mentor of Gujarat Titans, who won the 2022 Indian Premier League
Gillespie will make his international coaching debut with the Pakistan job.
The 49-year-old former Australia fast bowler played 71 Tests, 97 ODIs and 1 T20I from 1996-2006, taking a total of 402 wickets and accumulating 1,531 runs. His best bowling figures in an innings were seven for 37 against England at Headingley in July 1997, while his Test best score was against Bangladesh in Chattogram in April 2006 when he scored 201 not out.
He was part of the Australian team that won the World Cup in 2003.
In Kirsten, Pakistan have appointed an experienced coach who led India to the 50-over World Cup title in 2011, before the 56-year-old took over as South Africa coach.
He has also had stints in the Indian Premier League and is currently working as a mentor at Gujarat Titans. He will take up his new post with Pakistan after the tournament ends.
“My primary objective is to ensure the team operates at its optimal level. Success on the field is contingent upon the team performing at its best,” Kirsten said in a statement.
“Consistency and continuity are values I hold dear. While player form fluctuations are inevitable, maintaining a stable environment is crucial.”
He will join the team during their England tour featuring four Twenty20 internationals next month and his first major assignment will be the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies in June.
Gillespie, who has coached domestic teams in India, England and Australia, will take over before the two-test Bangladesh series in August.
“I love test cricket and being able to focus on that is something I like very much,” Gillespie said.
“I also love the fact that there’s so much talent in Pakistan. I like to think that I can help in some way to grow and develop the players.”
(With input from Reuters)
