Pakistan’s newly appointed head coach Gary Kirsten opens on coaching the Pakistan Men’s Cricket team and says “It’s an honour to coach such a talented and dynamic team”.
Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) have appointed Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie as the men’s team head coaches for different formats with the concept of split coaching being embraced by the board.
Gary Kirsten will coach the Pakistan men’s side in white-ball formats(ODI+T20I) while former Australian pacer Gillespie will be the head coach of the Test team. Azhar Mahmood, who served as the interim head coach for the recent T20I series against New Zealand, will be the assistant coach across all formats.
Kirsten will start working with the Pakistan cricket team from the upcoming T20I series against England scheduled to play at the end of this month. Kirsten will also remain as the head coach of the team for their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the West Indies and the USA.
“I’m truly excited to embark on this new journey with the Pakistan men’s cricket team. It’s an honour to coach such a talented and dynamic team, and I’m eager to contribute to their success on the international stage,” Kirsten said.
“These are indeed thrilling times for Pakistan cricket, with a new administration and players who are driven to deliver solid results. The upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 presents a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our skills and uphold Pakistan’s legacy as a formidable force in cricket.
However, success will require collective effort, meticulous planning and unwavering support for one another. With 19 other teams vying for the title, we must consistently outperform our rivals to realise our aspirations”.
“On a personal level, I’ve missed the experience of coaching at the international level and nurturing talented players to reach their full potential. I’m committed to working closely with the team to elevate their game and bring joy to fans around the world”, he added.
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.
Pakistan has been placed under Group A along with India, Ireland, USA and Canada. Pakistan will play their first match of the tournament on June 6 against USA in Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas.
The former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten coached the Indian cricket team during their 2011 World Cup campaign. Gary will join the Pakistan Men’s cricket team immediately after completing his assignment in the Indian Premier League.
Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team Coaching and Managing Staff
| Position | Name |
| Senior manager | Wahab Riaz |
| Manager | Mansoor Rana |
|
Head coach
|
Jason Gillespie (Test) |
|
Gary Kirsten (Limited overs)
|
|
| Batting coach | Mohammad Yousuf |
| Spin bowling coach | Saeed Ajmal |
| Assistant coach | Azhar Mahmood |
| Fielding coach | Aftab Khan |
| Physiotherapist | Cliffe Deacon |
| Strength and conditioning coach | Drikus Saaiman |
| Data analyst | Talha Butt |
| Doctor | Khurram Sarwar |
| Media and digital manager | Raza Kitchlew |
| Security manager | Irtiza Komail |
| Team masseur | Mohammad Imran |
