Kirsten takes charge in limited overs formats and Gillespie in Tests after months of turmoil in Pakistan cricket.
Former South African batsman and coach Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team in limited-overs cricket ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, while former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has been appointed as the head coach of the Test team.
The announcement at the PCB headquarters in Lahore follows months of turmoil at the board, where the coaching staff, captains and management underwent several changes after Pakistan finished fifth in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India and failed to qualify for the semi-finals .
Kirsten led India to their second World Cup title in 2011 and, in addition to several stints in club and franchise cricket, was also the coach of the South African men’s team.
Meanwhile, Gillespie, who has played 71 Tests and 91 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), will take charge immediately, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday.
“I’m really interested in Pakistan going our way,” Gillespie told Al Jazeera shortly before his appointment was confirmed.
The big pacer, nicknamed Dizzy, said he wanted the team to be “authentic and real”.
“Let’s entertain our fans with some fun and play with a smile on our face,” Gillespie said.
The 49-year-old will take over the position with immediate effect.
Grant Bradburn quit as Pakistan’s head coach in January, two months after the World Cup, followed by the departures of team director Mickey Arthur and batting coach Andrew Puttick in quick succession.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez replaced Bradburn and Arthur as head coach and team director after the team completed an unsuccessful tour of Australia and New Zealand. Pakistan lost the Test series against world champions Australia 3-0 and lost the T20 series against New Zealand 4-1.
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Gillespie made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1996, becoming the first recognized Aboriginal descendant to represent Australia in the longest form of cricket.
Although his career was plagued by injuries, Gillespie became his country’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 259 victims at an average of 26.
Gillespie was also the bowling coach of Indian Premier League team Kings XI Punjab before being appointed head coach at Yorkshire, where he spent two seasons towards the end of his playing career.
One of Gillespie’s finest moments came with the bat when he scored an unbeaten 201 in the second Test of 2006 against Bangladesh. After coming into the game as a night watchman at three, the right-hander batted for 574 minutes off 425 deliveries and helped set, scoring an innings and 80-run win in the 2-0 series win in which he took eight wickets and became player of the series was appointed.