The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the start of Gary Kirsten’s two-year tenure as the men’s national white ball coach at Leeds on 19 May.
Kirsten’s arrival comes ahead of the four-match T20I series against England on May 22 at Headingley. The series will be a lead-in to the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean, with Pakistan taking on hosts Pakistan in the opening match in Dallas on June 6.
The 56-year-old South African is set to join Pakistan in the midst of a major event in the cricket calendar.
Gillespie will join the squad in Pakistan in July ahead of the ICC World Cup match against Bangladesh in August.
Kirsten expressed her passion and commitment to the team’s success. He also acknowledged the exciting times for Pakistan cricket, stressing the new administration and the team’s drive to achieve solid results.
“It is an honor to coach such a talented and dynamic team and I look forward to contributing to their success on the international stage.”
The upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is a great opportunity to showcase our skills and uphold Pakistan’s legacy as a powerful force in cricket,” he said.
The former cricketer also highlighted the challenges ahead and stressed the need for collective efforts and careful planning.
“Success, however, will require collective efforts, wise planning and unwavering mutual support.
“On a personal level, I miss the experience of coaching internationally and nurturing talented players to reach their full potential. I look forward to working with the team to raise their game and bring joy to fans around the world.”
Meanwhile, PCB has announced the addition of Simon Helmot as a fielding coach and David Reid as a mental production coach following the recommendations of the team management.
Reid will join the squad on May 20 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will continue until 2024, while Helmot will be part of the mega event on May 31.
Aftab Khan, currently the fielding coach, will take over as the high performance coach at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after Helmut’s arrival.
