Why Gary Kirsten resigned as Pakistan's white-ball coach

Gary Kirsten, the former South Africa Test batter, has resigned from his post as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to accept his demands.

The PCB on Monday announced that Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men’s cricket team on next month’s white-ball tour of Australia after Gary Kirsten submitted his resignation which was accepted

According to well-placed sources Kirsten wanted to have a lead role in awarding central contracts to the players, selection matters and appointment of support staff of his choice.

Kirsten’s two-year contract hardly lasted for six months.

A disappointing tenure

After being appointed in April alongside red ball coach Jason Gillespie, Kirsten had joined Pakistan team in May in England just ahead of the T20 World Cup in the US where he failed to handle his side the way he should have as Green-shirts had to face group stage exit, even falling to the debutant United States.

According to sources, Kirsten wanted a lead role in the white-ball team affairs which was not justified.

Sources said that some of Kirsten’s short-listed players which he picked from the Champions Cup in Faisalabad were also ignored by the new selection committee which is being anchored by former Test pacer Aqib Javed and this also unsettled the coach.

The PCB withdrew voting powers of head coach and captain while restructuring the new selection committee and it was also a bit of a concern for Kirsten.

Sources said that Kirsten also wanted to have support staff of his choice.

Aaqib Javed: In control?

Aqib Javed has emerged as powerful man in the selection committee and it would not be wrong to say that he is actually the chief selector.

The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday made it clear that although the word chief is not attached with his designation he is definitely a convener.

Aqib was also present at the news conference at the Gaddafi Stadium along with the newly-appointed white ball captain Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Agha Salman.

Sources said that Gillespie is also not happy after the PCB withdrew voting rights of head coach but he has started adopting to the culture while respecting the PCB.

While announcing the restructured five-member selection committee which also features former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali and former ICC elite panel umpire Aleem Dar, the PCB had made it clear that the coach and skipper will be consulted before announcing the squad and final XI.

Aqib’s appointment as selector seems to have benefitted Pakistan.

Within a span of just few days Pakistan made spin-friendly pitches both at Multan and Pindi where spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali routed England. And in the last game in Pindi the spin duo, who both have been ignored for Pakistan’s white ball tour of Australia and Zimbabwe, were really merciless in the approach for the touring party.

Pakistan’s players have started moving to Australia on Monday to play three ODIs and the same number of T20I against Australia.

Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faisal Akram were among those who flew out for Australia. The series begins with the ODI from November 4.

After this tour Pakistan will fly out to Zimbabwe for three-match ODI and three-match T20I series.

The Australian tour will be a real test for the newly-appointed skipper Mohammad Rizwan who has replaced Babar Azam who resigned recently after informing the PCB about his decision.

Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday also clarified that Babar had resigned himself from captaincy as the Board had not talked with him about the same matter.

Meanwhile sources close to Rizwan said that the stumper is very happy after being appointed as captain of Pakistan.

“Yes, I discussed with Rizwan captaincy matter and congratulated him. He looked highly determined to get the best out of his charges on the Australia’s tour which is very crucial,” the source said.