For the forthcoming ODI series against Australia, interim coach Jason Gillespie will serve as the team’s test coach.
Former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and current senior selector Aaqib Javed are vying to succeed Gary Kirsten as Pakistan’s new white ball coach. Kirsten resigned as the former Proteas batter due to disagreements with the cricket board. The PCB formally announced Kirsten’s resignation on Monday. In the interim, it has asked Jason Gillespie, the red ball coach, to lead the team in the white ball series in Australia starting on November 4. However, Gillespie has hinted that he would consider it a one-time deal.
According to one source, “the issue is that both Kirsten and Gillespie were unhappy with their abrupt demotion in powers with the selectors given powers to call all the shots.”
He claimed that although Gillespie grudgingly accepted the changes because he was in the middle of the England series, he has expressed his displeasure in public at not being able to participate in the selection process.
The source stated, “Given the number of white ball commitments of the national team coming up and leading up to the Champions Trophy early next year, the PCB now has to appoint a new white ball coach.”
“One option is to let assistant coach Azhar Mahmood continue as interim head coach but Aaqib or Saqlain could also land the job.” When Najam Sethi was in charge of the board early last year, Mickey Arthur took Saqlain’s place as head coach of the Pakistani team.
According to the source, Mohsin Naqvi, the board chairman, will speak with the shortlisted candidates shortly. Other candidates are also being considered.
Board insiders claim that Kirsten and the PCB had a disagreement over a number of issues, but the PCB has not officially commented on Kirsten’s resignation or the former South African player’s remarks.
“Look, we had high hopes from Kirsten when we entered into a two-year contract with him. One person with knowledge of the events stated, “The idea was that he could help the PCB to revolutionise the white ball team.”
According to him, the PCB had the impression that Kirsten was never totally dedicated to his work.
“He did not have a single camp in Pakistan for any of the white ball teams. He was not present at the white ball camps of the Shaheens throughout the summer. And it all culminated with him missing the majority of the Champions Cup.” Another grievance against Kirsten is that he did not even spend 30 days in Pakistan after joining, despite his contract explicitly stating that he would only take 30 days of vacation per year.
The PCB was also put off with Kirsten’s insistence on having more foreign coaches on his team and the dispute between them blew up once the board decided to strip the coaches of selection powers.Following last year’s World Cup, the PCB also forced foreign coaches, such as Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn, to step down.