Cricket

Pakistan's Coaching Turmoil: Ramiz Raja Expresses Concerns over Hiring International TalentFormer Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has raised concerns about the challenges Pakistan faces in attracting international coaching talent following the departure of Gary Kirsten as white-ball head coach.Raja's comments come amidst a period of significant upheaval in Pakistan cricket, with Rizwan's appointment as white-ball captain, Kirsten's resignation, and the subsequent hiring of Jason Gillespie as all-format head coach.Speaking to reporters, Raja acknowledged the backlash PCB has faced over Kirsten's resignation. He emphasized the importance of providing clarity to international coaches about their roles and responsibilities."When you search for international coaches, with the kind of backlash that you will probably get from Gary Kirsten's resignation... it's not going to be an easy, straightforward job for Pakistan to hire international talent," Raja said.He added that Kirsten's departure was a setback for Pakistan, as they needed an experienced hand. "It's not great news [Kirsten's departure] because Pakistan needed an experienced hand. From a distance, it doesn't look great just before a tour," Raja said.Kirsten's resignation came just six months into his tenure, without having managed Pakistan in a single ODI match. His primary assignment was the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, where Pakistan suffered an early exit in the group stage.Raja's concerns highlight the challenges Pakistan faces in attracting and retaining top-quality international coaches. The PCB has faced criticism for its handling of coaching appointments and its lack of clarity in defining roles and responsibilities.As Pakistan prepares for upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe, the PCB will need to address these concerns and find a way to attract and retain the best possible coaching talent to guide the team to success.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has revealed that former South African coach Gary Kirsten's departure was due to "breaches" of his contract. Kirsten, who led India to the 2011 World Cup victory, had reportedly resigned after a rift with the PCB over the coaches' diminished role in selection matters.Naqvi clarified that Kirsten had terminated his contract with the PCB, not vice versa. "He (Kirsten) broke his contract with the PCB and made some breaches. He ended the contract with us," Naqvi stated.Sources within the PCB have alleged that Kirsten violated certain contract clauses, including insufficient time spent in Pakistan and his insistence on a foreign coaching staff. Naqvi confirmed that the PCB is actively seeking a new white-ball head coach and has already interviewed several candidates."We will have a new white ball head coach by the end of this month because Jason Gillispie has only agreed to manage the team in Australia for the white ball matches on an interim basis. He is more focused on his role as red ball head coach," Naqvi explained.Regarding the omission of Fakhar Zaman from the Pakistan squads for the Australia and Zimbabwe tours, Naqvi emphasized that the selectors have the authority to make such decisions. Zaman is currently under investigation by the PCB for supporting Babar Azam on social media after being dropped for the England Tests."The issue of the show cause notice will be handled by a special committee of the board while the selectors have authority over selection matters," Naqvi said. He denied any interference in selection matters or advocating for specific players.

Pakistan's newly appointed white-ball captain, Muhammad Rizwan, has acquiesced to the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) revised selection policy, which eliminates his voting privileges in the selection of touring squads and playing elevens. This decision comes after initial hesitation from Rizwan.According to a source within the PCB, Rizwan agreed to the new system after discussions with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and senior selector Aaqib Javed. Under this system, Rizwan's input in the selection process will be purely advisory.The PCB's new selection policy was implemented following Pakistan's humiliating defeat against England in the first Test in Multan. The board appointed three new selectors – Aaqib, Azhar Ali, and Aleem Dar – and granted them sweeping powers to select teams without the consent of the captain or head coach.Pakistan's white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten, resigned on Monday due to his disagreement with the new selection process and other issues with the PCB.The PCB has assured Rizwan that he will be consulted in finalizing teams, but the ultimate decision will rest with the five selectors. The selection committee is now responsible for selecting touring squads and playing elevens.To ensure effective communication, the PCB is sending national selector Asad Shafiq with the team to Australia for the white-ball matches. Shafiq will consult with the other selectors in Pakistan to select the playing eleven.

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has expressed his disappointment over the departure of Gary Kirsten as Pakistan's white-ball coach. Kirsten's tenure lasted only seven months, having joined in April 2024 ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.Pietersen criticized Pakistan cricket for the decision to part ways with Kirsten, calling it "one step forward, two steps back." Kirsten has a successful coaching career, having won the 2011 Cricket World Cup as head coach of India.Despite Pakistan's 2-1 Test series victory over England, Kirsten's exit has created uncertainty in the team's white-ball setup. Pietersen questioned the decision on social media, stating that Pakistan has "too much talent to keep doing this kind of stuff."Kirsten's tenure as Pakistan's white-ball coach was marked by a disappointing group stage exit at the T20 World Cup 2024. Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali suggested that Kirsten's disagreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over key decisions, including the appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as white-ball captain, contributed to his departure.Pakistan has appointed Test head coach Jason Gillespie as the interim white-ball coach for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Aaqib Javed and Saqlain Mushtaq are potential candidates for the permanent role.

Pakistan cricket has been thrown into turmoil once again following the abrupt resignation of head coach Gary Kirsten. The former World Cup-winning coach departed just six months into a two-year contract, leaving the team without a permanent coach on the eve of their white-ball tour of Australia.Kirsten's departure has raised concerns about Pakistan's ability to attract high-profile international coaching candidates in the future. Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja believes the hasty nature of Kirsten's exit could deter prospective coaches from considering the role."When you search for international coaches, with the kind of backlash that you will probably get from Gary Kirsten's resignation...it's not going to be an easy, straightforward job for Pakistan to hire international talent," Raja said.The PCB has faced criticism for its handling of the coaching situation. Kirsten and Jason Gillespie, Pakistan's Test coach, were stripped of their selection powers after the team's first Test defeat against England. This decision reportedly led to a rift between the coaches and the board.Gillespie, who will take over as interim white-ball coach for the Australia tour, has also expressed dissatisfaction with the recent changes. A new selection panel, including umpire Aleem Dar, has been formed, raising questions about the board's decision-making process."I don't know about an umpire being a selector, so the jury is still out," Raja said. "I still believe there's a strong role for a leader in cricket. You can't run cricket from the sidelines."Pakistan will arrive in Australia with a new white-ball coach and captain. Mohammad Rizwan has taken over the captaincy from Babar Azam, who recently resigned. Rizwan will lead a relatively inexperienced squad against a formidable Australian team."He's got his chance and what he needs to do is to stamp his authority and maybe get the players that he wants," Raja said of Rizwan. "Right now, there's a little bit of hodgepodge where the selection committee is nominating the playing XI."Raja called for "quiet and calm" within Pakistan cricket, emphasizing the importance of a stable environment for the team's success."I think it's important for all the stakeholders to understand the value of a non-controversial start to what appears to be an extremely heavyweight calendar," he said.

Pakistan Cricket in Crisis: Basit Ali Blasts PCB for Kirsten's DepartureFormer Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the abrupt resignation of Gary Kirsten as the team's limited-overs coach. Ali, in a fiery rant on his YouTube channel, expressed his deep concern over the deteriorating state of Pakistan cricket."Pakistan's cricket is going down, and I don't want it to go down. In the coming days, it will get worse," Ali lamented. He criticized the PCB for its haphazard approach to hiring foreign coaches, arguing that they should first be tested at the junior levels.Ali drew comparisons to Australia and India, where coaches like Rodney Marsh and Rahul Dravid had worked with grassroots programs before taking on senior roles. "They've made a joke out of Pakistan," Ali said, hinting at internal interference in cricketing decisions.Ali mocked Kirsten's reported reservations about player selection, saying, "Now Gary Kirsten is acting innocent, saying, 'I won't accept it without Babar Azam.' So you don't want Rizwan as captain, and you don't want Shaheen Afridi—is this Pakistan's team or Gary Kirsten's team?"He further questioned Kirsten's commitment to Pakistan cricket, saying, "Next, he'll say, 'My academy is running in Cape Town,' and then join some IPL or PSL franchise. Why do you even give opportunities to people like this who can't spend their time in Pakistan?"Kirsten, who coached India to the 2011 World Cup win, was appointed by the PCB on a two-year contract in April. However, his tenure lasted just six months, with tensions reportedly brewing between the PCB and the coaching staff.The PCB's decision to strip Kirsten and Gillespie of their voting rights in team selection earlier this month fueled speculation of internal disagreements. The PCB has confirmed Kirsten's resignation and announced that Jason Gillespie, Pakistan's Test coach, will step in for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia.Ali's outburst reflects the growing frustration among Pakistani cricket fans and experts over the team's recent struggles. Pakistan has failed to win a major ICC tournament since 2017 and has been plagued by inconsistent performances and off-field controversies.

Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has revealed that ex-South African cricketer and coach Gary Kirsten was unhappy with the decision to appoint Mohammad Rizwan as the captain of Pakistan's white-ball teams. Ali claims that Kirsten had a different player in mind for the leadership role and believed he had "full authority" over such choices.This revelation comes amidst significant changes within the Pakistan cricket team. Rizwan's appointment as white-ball captain, Kirsten's resignation as T20I and ODI coach, and the hiring of Jason Gillespie as the head coach for all formats have all contributed to a period of transition.Ali explained on his YouTube channel, "When Mohammad Rizwan was named Pakistan's new white-ball captain, Kirsten wanted a different captain and demanded another player in the team. Coincidentally, both of them are not in the team. He thought he had full authority, but he doesn't know that in Pakistan, even the PCB chairman can get changed overnight."Ali further commented on the recent changes in the PCB, stating, "Mohsin Naqvi has come with a lot of power. The coaches, selectors, and managers are being removed. Earlier, the chairman used to be changed from time to time. Now, whoever raises their voice will be sidelined."Kirsten's primary assignment was to guide Pakistan to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA. However, Pakistan's early exit from the group stage after losses to India and the USA led to his departure.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that Rizwan would replace Babar Azam as the team's white-ball captain for the upcoming series against Australia and Zimbabwe. Salam Ali Agha has been appointed as Rizwan's vice-captain for these away tours.

Gary Kirsten's resignation as Pakistan's limited-overs coach has sparked discussions about the role of international coaches in team selection. Kirsten's departure comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restructured coaching roles and removed head coaches from the selection committee following Pakistan's loss to England in the first Test.Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria expressed support for Kirsten's decision, citing the pressure and criticism he faced after Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup and home Test series loss to Bangladesh. Kaneria emphasized that international coaches need time to adapt and perform, and that Kirsten's experience would have been valuable for Pakistan's young players.The PCB's decision to alter its selection committee has also raised questions. Previously, head coaches and captains had voting rights on the committee, but after Pakistan's loss to England, the PCB delegated all selection powers to a newly formed committee.Kaneria suggested that Kirsten may have wanted to be involved in the selection process, but that the PCB's decision to exclude international coaches from the committee was justified. He explained that international coaches often lack familiarity with domestic players, which is crucial for effective selection.Kirsten's resignation leaves Pakistan without a limited-overs coach ahead of their upcoming ODI series against Australia. The team will face Australia in Melbourne on November 4, marking their first ODI since last year's World Cup.

Gary Kirsten's tenure as Pakistan's white-ball head coach is reportedly nearing an end, just a day after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Mohammad Rizwan as the new full-time white-ball captain.According to Cricbuzz, significant differences have emerged between Kirsten and the players, as well as disagreements with the PCB over coaching staff decisions. Kirsten had reportedly requested the appointment of David Reid as High Performance coach, a suggestion that did not align with the PCB's preferences. The board allegedly proposed alternatives, which Kirsten found unacceptable.Kirsten's departure is a blow to Pakistan cricket, as he was seen as a key figure in the team's rebuilding process. However, his tenure has been marred by a lack of success on the field. Pakistan lost a bilateral series in England and suffered a disappointing early exit in the T20 World Cup, with losses to the United States and India derailing their campaign.With the ICC Champions Trophy less than four months away and Pakistan set to host an international tournament for the first time in over two decades, the PCB faces the urgent task of appointing a new white-ball coach. Speculation suggests that Jason Gillespie, Pakistan's red-ball coach, could temporarily take over both formats. However, Aaqib Javed, a former fast bowler and current national selector, is seen as the frontrunner for the position. Javed is credited with the team's recent success in the home Test series against England, which Pakistan won 2-1.An official announcement is expected soon as the PCB navigates this challenging coaching situation ahead of a critical period for Pakistan cricket.