Cricket

Aaqib Javed Set to Take Over as Pakistan's White-Ball Head CoachFormer Pakistan pacer and current national selector Aaqib Javed is poised to be appointed as the permanent head coach for Pakistan's white-ball formats. The appointment is expected to be finalized before the team's upcoming tour of Zimbabwe for a series of ODIs and T20Is.According to reliable sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Javed, who was initially hesitant to take on the coaching role, has been persuaded by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to assume the responsibility. The Pakistan squad will depart for Harare directly from Australia after their final T20I on Monday, and the new head coach will join them in Zimbabwe.Javed, who currently serves as the senior national selector, possesses extensive coaching experience. He has led the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and recently served as the bowling coach of Sri Lanka. He has also held the positions of bowling coach for Pakistan and head coach of the under-19 side in the past.The PCB initially sought to appoint Australian Jason Gillespie, the Test side's coach, as the white-ball head coach as well. However, Gillespie declined the offer to prioritize time with his family. He was subsequently asked to serve as the interim coach for the white-ball series in Australia after South Africa's Gary Kirsten resigned before the tour.After the Zimbabwe tour, Pakistan will travel to South Africa for a white-ball series and two Tests before returning home in January.

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.

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.

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.

Brendon McCullum, the current England Test coach, has been appointed as the new men's white-ball head coach, marking a significant shift in the ECB's coaching structure. This strategic restructure will see McCullum oversee both the Test and white-ball teams, a move that has been met with widespread praise.McCullum's three-year contract extension will see him guide England's white-ball fortunes until the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, while also leading the Test squad through the 2027 Ashes campaign. This unified approach aims to create a cohesive coaching structure and foster a consistent playing style across all formats.The appointment comes after the sacking of Matthew Mott as white-ball head coach in July, following England's disappointing performances in the 50-over and 20-over World Cups. McCullum's success as Test coach, particularly his implementation of the "Bazball" mentality, has made him a highly sought-after coach.Despite initially expressing reluctance for the white-ball role, McCullum has now embraced the challenge, eager to extend his ethos of aggressive and fearless cricket to the limited-overs formats. He will work closely with white-ball captain Jos Buttler to build on the team's existing strengths and navigate the upcoming generational shift.McCullum's appointment as both Test and white-ball coach is a first for England since Chris Silverwood. While the demanding schedule has previously made it difficult to combine both roles, the ECB believes that the easing of fixtures from 2025 onwards will allow McCullum to effectively manage both responsibilities.The unified coaching structure is expected to benefit young players like Harry Brook and Gus Atkinson, who have the potential to excel in both formats. It will also provide a clearer pathway for emerging players to transition from white-ball to Test cricket.McCullum's vision for English cricket aligns with the ECB's goal of creating a thriving environment where players can reach their full potential. He aims to foster a culture of excellence and competitiveness across all formats, ensuring that England remains a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has ruled out the possibility of becoming England's next men's white-ball coach, citing time constraints and a desire to return to coaching in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Ponting's decision comes after Matthew Mott's departure as England's white-ball coach, leaving a vacancy for a prominent figure in the cricketing world. Despite his seven-year stint with the Delhi Capitals ending this year, Ponting is not yet ready to commit to full-time coaching at the international level."International jobs for me right now are not really where my life is at," Ponting said in an interview with The ICC Review show. "I've got other commitments, with my TV work and things that I do, and I'm trying to balance that out with having a decent amount of home time."Ponting, who also worked as Mumbai Indians head coach, recently led the Washington Freedom to victory in the second season of the Major League Cricket (MLC). He has another year on his contract with the team in the USA and is hopeful of securing an IPL coaching contract ahead of the 2025 season."I'd love to coach again in the IPL," Ponting said. "I've had a great time every year that I've been involved, whether that was as a player or as a head coach."Ponting also revealed that the Delhi Capitals will likely appoint an Indian coach as their next head coach. "They made it pretty clear that they wanted to head in a different direction with someone that could give them a bit more time and availability through the off-season," he said.Despite his decision to decline the England coaching role, Ponting remains open to other coaching opportunities in the future. "There could be a few opportunities for me popping up in the next couple of months," he said. "I'd love to be back coaching in the IPL again next season."

Kumar Sangakkara, the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer, has expressed interest in the vacant England limited-overs coaching position but has not yet received a formal approach. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is seeking a new white-ball coach after sacking Matthew Mott following disappointing performances in the 2023 50-over World Cup and T20 World Cup.Sangakkara, who has worked with England captain Jos Buttler at the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, has been linked with the role. However, the 46-year-old has downplayed the speculation, stating that he has not been contacted by the ECB."I know my name has been mentioned, but there has not been any approach as such," Sangakkara told PA news agency. "The England white-ball job is an exciting prospect for anyone, but there are so many good candidates out there."Sangakkara praised Mott's tenure as England coach and expressed admiration for the leadership of Rob Key, the managing director of England men's cricket. He believes that England is on the right track and that the decision-making has been spot on."I think the decision making in the England camp has been spot on," Sangakkara said. "I really love the leadership that Rob Key has provided...I think he has been a really smart, practical man, very commonsensical in terms of how he makes decisions and very forward-thinking in how he has set the vision for England cricket."Sangakkara, who is currently a member of Sky Sports' commentary team for The Hundred, expressed contentment with his current role at the Rajasthan Royals. He also praised Sri Lankan cricketer Chamari Athapaththu for her inspiring leadership and her recent success in guiding the Sri Lanka women's team to Asia Cup glory.

Eoin Morgan, the former England white-ball captain, has vehemently denied rumors linking him to the England men's white-ball coaching position, which is currently held by Matthew Mott. Morgan's denial came amidst speculation that he could replace Mott following England's disappointing semi-final exit at the T20 World Cup."This news is actually news to me," Morgan said while commentating on the Hundred for Sky Sports. "It's obviously not nice when a coach comes under fire and there is a lot of speculation about his future, but only time will tell what will happen."Mott, who is halfway through a four-year contract, led England to a T20 World Cup title just six months after his appointment. However, his position has come under scrutiny after England's underwhelming performances in the last two global tournaments.At the 50-over World Cup last year, England won only three out of nine games, with two of those victories coming after their elimination. At the T20 World Cup, they reached the semi-finals but were comprehensively defeated by India.England's managing director, Rob Key, has stated that he will review the team's performance at the T20 World Cup "in the next few weeks." The Times reported that Mott is likely to leave his role and that Key is considering potential candidates, including Morgan.However, Morgan has made it clear that he has no interest in the coaching position at this time. "My answer has simply been that the timing for everything in my life at the moment is not right," Morgan said. "Yes, I want to coach down the line. But I have a young family, and I spend a lot more time at home and watching cricket doing this [commentary]. I'm absolutely loving what I'm doing."Meanwhile, England captain Jos Buttler is expected to miss the Hundred this year due to a calf injury. Manchester Originals, Buttler's team, are reportedly lining up potential replacements.

Gary Kirsten, the newly appointed Pakistan white-ball coach, has expressed his concerns about the challenges facing the team and the state of Test cricket.Kirsten, who has yet to join the Pakistan camp in person, has identified potential "blockages" within the squad. He believes his role is to unlock the players' natural abilities and address the issues that have hindered their success.Pakistan's recent performances have been disappointing, with a poor ODI World Cup followed by Test and T20I series losses to Australia and New Zealand. The team also struggled against a weakened New Zealand side and only narrowly defeated Ireland.Kirsten acknowledged the negativity surrounding Pakistan cricket, attributing it to the knock-on effects of poor on-field results. He emphasized the importance of building relationships with the board and accepting the limitations of his powers.Kirsten's experience with India has prepared him for the administrative challenges of working with a South Asian cricket board. He believes in focusing on winnable battles and building relationships with the board to gain their support.One of Kirsten's key concerns is the over-reliance on captain Babar Azam. He believes Babar should not feel the pressure to carry the team and that other players need to step up and make match-winning contributions.Kirsten's appointment alongside Jason Gillespie, who will coach the Test side, has coincided with Pakistan's 2-1 T20I series win against Ireland. Kirsten will join the team in England for their upcoming T20I series against England ahead of the T20 World Cup.While Kirsten has set his sights on winning one of the three upcoming ICC white-ball events, he expressed concerns about the frequency of these tournaments. He believes it could lead to a lack of context in matches and potentially harm Test cricket.Kirsten's appointment is a significant step for Pakistan cricket. His experience and insights will be crucial in addressing the team's challenges and unlocking their potential.