In a significant shift ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan cricket witnesses transformative changes. Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the coach for the Pakistan team in the white-ball formats (ODIs and T20s). Under Kirsten's coaching, the Indian team clinched the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Australian cricket stalwart Jason Gillespie has been named the head coach for the Test team, while former Pakistani cricketer Azhar Mahmood takes on the role of assistant coach across all formats. Each coach is set for a two-year tenure. Notably, the T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played in the USA and the West Indies starting from June 1st.
Gary Kirsten, now 56, currently mentors the IPL franchise Gujarat Titans. Before this, he served as head coach for the South African team for three years. Kirsten's appointment as coach for Pakistan comes just a month before the T20 World Cup. Following Mickey Arthur's departure, the role of the chief coach for all formats in the Pakistan team had been vacant. After Arthur, Mohammad Hafeez took command as the team director but was dismissed after disappointing performances during tours of New Zealand and Australia.
The Illustrious International Career of Gary Kirsten
As a left-handed opening batsman, Gary Kirsten played 101 Test matches for South Africa, scoring 7,289 runs at an average of 45.27. His highest score was an impressive 275. In his Test career, Gary hit 21 centuries and 34 half-centuries. In ODI cricket, his record was equally remarkable. Kirsten played 185 ODIs and scored 6,798 runs, which included 13 centuries and 45 half-centuries. His best ODI score was an unbeaten 188 runs against the UAE in the 1999 World Cup.
Kirsten was also a splendid fielder; his agility on the field was unmatched. One spectacular catch he took was of Sachin Tendulkar, which still resonates with fans. The catch was taken during the second innings of a Test match played in Durban in 1996 off the bowling of Shaun Pollock, and it is often counted among the best catches in Test cricket.
Jason Gillespie's Impressive International Record
Turning to Jason Gillespie, he has played 71 Tests, 97 ODIs, and 1 T20 match for Australia. In Test matches, he bagged 259 wickets at an average of 26.13, including eight instances where he took five or more wickets in an innings. In terms of batting, Gillespie scored 1,218 runs in Tests, averaging 18.73, including one century and two half-centuries.
In ODIs, Gillespie has a tally of 142 wickets with an average of 25.42. He took five wickets in an innings three times in ODIs. Gillespie has also taken a wicket in T20 International cricket. In ODIs, he scored 289 runs and 24 runs in the T20 format. Gillespie has been a bowling coach for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the IPL and has served as the head coach for teams like Yorkshire, South Australia, Sussex, Adelaide Strikers, and the Papua New Guinea national team.
