Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie were named as Pakistan’s head coaches for white-ball and red-ball cricket respectively, and they shared their thoughts on their new roles on Sunday.
The appointments were announced by the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi during a press conference held here today.
Kirsten will take charge as the head coach of Pakistan’s ODI and T20I sides immediately after completing his assignment in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
During his tenure, besides the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and other bilateral white-ball series, Kirsten will also be in charge of the side for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Pakistan men’s national team in white-ball cricket and to rejoin the international cricket arena after some time,” stated Kirsten.
“I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to contribute positively to the Pakistan men’s national team in limited-overs cricket.
“My goal is to unite the Pakistan men’s white-ball team, harnessing their considerable talents towards a common objective, and achieving success together on the field.
“My perspective on Pakistan cricket has remained consistent over time. There’s always an inherent expectation for the team to perform at a high level consistently.
“However, in team sports, maintaining peak performance is not always guaranteed. As a coach, it’s immensely gratifying to assist players in unlocking their full potential.
“I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the individual players and the team, facilitating their growth and development.”
Meanwhile, Gillespie will assume responsibilities for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh (at home in August), which will be followed by Tests against England (at home in October) and South Africa (away in December) in the 2024-25 season.
“I am grateful to the PCB for their faith in my abilities and giving me the honour of coaching one of the most highly-regarded and talented cricket teams in the traditional format of the sport,” said Gillespie.
“Leading the Pakistan cricket team is a big achievement for any coach, given its rich legacy and passionate fan base.
“I love Test cricket and being able to focus on that is something I like very much. I also love the fact that there is so much talent in Pakistan.
“I like to think that I can help in some way to grow and develop the players. I want to win Tests – that is why I am taking this role. I love winning and I know we have got the skill to make that happen.
“Ultimately, it is all about playing the style of cricket we want to play, one that helps us win matches excites the public and puts smiles on the faces of everyone connected with Pakistan cricket.
“Within Pakistan, we have a number of high-quality fast bowlers and being able to utilise them will be a key part of any success we enjoy.”
READ: PCB appoints Kirsten, Gillespie as coaches for white, red-ball cricket
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