ISLAMABAD: Former South African cricketer and short-lived Pakistan white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten has finally spoken out about the turbulent circumstances behind his abrupt resignation from the Pakistan national team, citing a lack of structure, authority, and mounting external interference.
In a revealing interview on the Wisden Cricket Patreon podcast, Kirsten said he quickly realised he had no real power to shape the team, leading to his departure just months into the role.
Kirsten was appointed in April 2024 alongside Jason Gillespie, who took charge of the Test side, in what was initially hailed as a fresh chapter for Pakistan cricket. However, that optimism soon gave way to disillusionment.
No Role in Selections, No Control
Kirsten described his time as “tumultuous,” explaining that being excluded from team selections was a turning point.
“Cricket teams need to be run by cricket people,” he stressed.
“Once I was taken off selection and asked to take a team I hadn’t helped shape, it became very difficult to have any sort of positive influence.”
By October, shortly after squads for tours to Australia and Zimbabwe were announced, Kirsten had stepped down, frustrated by his limited control.
He and Gillespie were left out of the five-member selection committee, a move widely interpreted as a clear sidelining of the coaching staff.
External Interference and Future Prospects
Kirsten cited “influential noise” and “other agendas” as key factors that made his role unworkable.
“When there’s a lot of outside noise, it becomes impossible to lead a team in the right direction,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Kirsten expressed fondness for the Pakistan players, describing them as “great guys” who face immense pressure.
“If I got invited back to Pakistan tomorrow, I would go — but under the right circumstances,” he added.
Gillespie, who left in December 2024, echoed similar frustrations, particularly over the PCB’s decision to remove high-performance coach Tim Nielsen.
Kirsten’s candid remarks highlight long-standing issues within Pakistan cricket — structural instability, blurred authority, and external pressures — that continue to hinder progress.
