Gary Kirsten Appointed as Pakistan's White-Ball Head Coach

World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the white-ball head coach of the Pakistan men's cricket team for a two-year term. Pakistan will participate in two T20 World Cups (2024 and 2026) and one Champions Trophy during Kirsten's tenure.

Upon assuming his role, Kirsten outlined his vision for the team's future, emphasizing the importance of winning major ICC tournaments. "If you can win one of those three ICC Events, that will be an amazing achievement on its own," he said. "My job is to make sure that the team operates at its best, and if the team is operating at its best, we will always have a good chance of winning a trophy."

However, former Pakistan player Ahmed Shehzad criticized Kirsten's statements, questioning his understanding of the team's dynamics. "Gary Kirsten is a renowned coach, but he will be fed information by those who will select the team," Shehzad said. "He does not have a base in Lahore nor has he grown up in Pakistan to understand the nature of different players."

Shehzad also expressed concern over Kirsten's cautious approach, stating that "he is keeping himself in a safe position" by suggesting that Pakistan may not win the upcoming T20 World Cup but could perform better in the future. "This is not how a winner talks," Shehzad added.

Despite Shehzad's criticism, Kirsten remains confident in his ability to guide Pakistan to success. He has a proven track record of success, having coached India to the 2011 World Cup title and South Africa to the top of the ICC Test rankings.

Kirsten's appointment is part of a broader restructuring of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has also seen the appointment of former captain Shahid Afridi as the chief selector. The PCB is hoping that these changes will help Pakistan regain its status as a cricketing powerhouse.

Tags: #GaryKirsten, #PakistanCricket, #WhiteBallCricket, #T20WorldCup, #ChampionsTrophy