PCB appoints Gary Kirsten, Jason Gillespie as men’s team head coaches

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.

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.

During his tenure, Gary will coach the Pakistan cricket team for 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.

“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. Leading the Pakistan cricket team is a big achievement for any coach, given its rich legacy and passionate fan base,” Gillespie said.

“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,” he added.

“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. I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to contribute positively to the Pakistan men’s national team in limited-overs cricket,” said the South African Kirsten.

“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,” he added.

Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team Coaching and Managing Staff