ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Gary Kirsten kicks aside Pakistan Cricket Team hanging

Former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten is likely to step down as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach after conflicts with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and some players. This move comes right before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 which is scheduled in Pakistan.

Gary Kirsten's decision comes shortly after the PCB named wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s new white-ball captain.

Pakistan has been going through a tough phase across the formats. They exited from the group stage in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Babar Azam resigned after the poor performance in the T20 World Cup. Mohammad Rizwan has now been appointed as the white-ball captain.

Gary Kirsten Appointed As Pakistan's White-ball Head Coach In May

The 56-year-old was appointed as Pakistan's white-ball head coach in May after completing his IPL commitments with the Gujarat Titans (GT). Kirsten joined the team ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, while former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie took on the role of red-ball coach for Pakistan.

The Men in Green have had mixed results during Kirsten's tenure. They suffered a series defeat to England ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan then lost to the United States of America and India during the ICC tournament. They won against Ireland and Canada before suffering a group-stage exit.

Gary Kirsten Not To Travel With Team For Australia And Zimbabwe

According to a Cricbuzz report, Gary Kirsten is expected to step down from his role as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach due to differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He will likely skip the upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe, where Pakistan is set to play three ODIs and three T20Is in each country.

The Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly rejected Kirsten’s request to appoint David Reid as High-Performance Director. They suggested alternatives that Kirsten found unsuitable. The board hasn't officially announced Kirsten's resignation, but a replacement will be announced soon.

"Cricbuzz has learned of serious differences of opinion between Kirsten and the players. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may not have directly influenced this situation, Kirsten's request to appoint David Reid as a High-Performance coach did not find favor with the board. Instead, the PCB reportedly suggested alternatives, which were not acceptable to Kirsten," the report said.

PCB Considering Aaqib Javed For White-Ball Coaching Role

With the Champions Trophy just months away, the PCB may need to find a new white-ball coach. The PCB may have the option to appoint Jason Gillespie, the current red-ball coach, or appoint a new candidate. Notably, Pakistan is scheduled to host an ICC tournament for the first time in over 20 years.

The PCB is considering former Pakistan pacer and current national selector Aaqib Javed for the white-ball coaching role ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Aaqib played a crucial role in Pakistan's recent 2-1 win against England in the recently concluded three-Test series on home soil.

Also read: Cheteshwar Pujara's snub, Nitish Reddy's inclusion for BGT 2024-25 questioned by Ex-Chief selector