The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Jason Gillespie as the interim white-ball head coach for the team’s tour of Australia following Gary Kirsten’s resignation.
Read: Gary Kirsten to Quit as Pakistan’s White-Ball Coach
Gillespie, currently the Green Shirts’ red-ball head coach, will lead the team during the ODI and T20I series against Australia starting November 4. The team will play three ODIs and T20Is each against the Kangaroos, followed by a similar series against Zimbabwe.
Kirsten resigned after various disagreements with the PCB. He and Gillespie were originally signed as white and red-ball coaches on two-year contracts in April this year.
Sources indicated that Kirsten had issues with staying in Pakistan as his contract required, and he preferred to join the team only days before a series or tour. He also failed to meet his availability requirements during the Champions Cup despite reminders of his 11-month mandatory commitment.
Further, Kirsten insisted on input regarding the white-ball team and central contract categories. He also threatened not to travel to Australia unless issues concerning mental performance coach David Reid were resolved. Another point of contention was the PCB’s recent restructuring of the selection committee, which removed coaches and the captain from the panel, now comprising Aqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema.
With Kirsten’s departure, Javed has emerged as a potential permanent replacement as white-ball head coach. Final consultations with Javed are reportedly underway, with an announcement expected soon.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had prioritized hiring a new coach, with Gillespie appointed as the first choice for the interim role in the upcoming Australia series.
