Gary Kirsten Exits Pakistan Cricket: Power Struggles and Lost Influence Behind Shock Departure
In a stunning revelation, Gary Kirsten, the celebrated South African coach who led India to the 2011 World Cup victory, has opened up about his premature exit as Pakistan’s white-ball coach after a mere six months in the role. Speaking candidly on the Wisden Cricket Patreon podcast, Kirsten attributed his departure to internal power struggles, limited authority, and a frustrating lack of control over team selection, painting a grim picture of the administrative chaos within Pakistan cricket.
Kirsten, appointed in April 2024 alongside Jason Gillespie (who took charge of the red-ball side), parted ways with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in October 2024. His resignation came just a day after the PCB announced squads for upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe—squads Kirsten had no hand in shaping. ‘Once I was taken off selection and asked to take a team without being able to shape it, it became very difficult as a coach to have any sort of positive influence on the group,’ he lamented, highlighting the disconnect between coaching staff and decision-makers.
The dysfunction didn’t end there. Both Kirsten and Gillespie were conspicuously excluded from the revamped five-member selection committee, a move that stripped them of critical input in shaping the team’s future. Gillespie, too, resigned shortly after, citing the controversial sacking of high-performance coach Tim Nielsen as a breaking point. This series of events underscores a deeper malaise in Pakistan cricket, where administrative interference and external pressures often overshadow on-field aspirations—a recurring theme in the nation’s cricketing history.
Despite the turbulent stint, Kirsten’s affection for Pakistan’s talent remains evident. ‘Pakistan’s players are fantastic,’ he affirmed, praising the raw skill and potential within the squad. Intriguingly, he left the door ajar for a potential return, provided the environment improves. ‘If I got invited back to Pakistan tomorrow, I would go… under the right circumstances,’ he said, emphasizing the need for cricket to be run by cricket people rather than succumbing to ‘very influential outside noise.’ At 56, Kirsten made it clear he’s past the stage of navigating ulterior motives, stating, ‘I’m too old now to be dealing with other agendas. I just want to coach a cricket team and work with the players.’
As Pakistan prepares for challenging tours Down Under and in Zimbabwe, Kirsten’s exit raises pressing questions about the PCB’s direction. With a history of frequent coaching changes—Kirsten being the latest in a line of short-lived tenures—and ongoing friction between management and staff, can Pakistan cricket stabilize its off-field structure to match the passion of its fans and players? Only time will tell, but for now, the departure of a coach of Kirsten’s caliber is a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.
What are your thoughts on Kirsten’s revelations? Is Pakistan cricket in desperate need of reform, or can it bounce back from this setback? Share your views in the comments below!