Former Proteas star and World Cup-winning coach, Gary Kirsten, has accepted a high-profile coaching role with Pakistan.
It was confirmed this past weekend that Gary Kirsten, a former opening batsman for the Proteas, has been appointed as the coach of Pakistan’s white-ball teams. Meanwhile, Jason Gillespie, a former Australian cricketer, will manage the Test side under a two-year contract. This marks the first time Pakistan has appointed separate coaches for different formats.
“Both Kirsten and Gillespie are renowned and seasoned coaches, and their appointment underscores the confidence the international community has in our team,” commented Mohsin Naqvi, PCB chairman, in a statement.
Kirsten, who played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs for South Africa from 1993 to 2004, coached India to ODI World Cup glory in 2011 and helped them achieve the No-1 Test ranking.
The 56-year-old is currently coaching the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. He will join the Pakistan team for the tour of England next month, where they are scheduled to play four T20Is.
“Understanding the current state of the team and charting a path toward our desired goals is paramount,” said Kirsten. “Winning global events, while challenging, remains a significant objective. Whether it’s the upcoming tournament in June or future events, achieving success in these competitions would be a remarkable feat.”
Kirsten is recognized as one of the Proteas’ all-time greats. His playing career, spanning from 1993 to 2004, was distinguished by his solid technique and capacity to bat for extended periods. His crowning achievement as a batsman was a marathon 275 against England in 1999—an innings that lasted over 14 and a half hours and remains the second-longest in Test history. Notably, Kirsten was the first batsman to score a century against each of the then nine Test-playing nations.
Following his retirement in 2004, Kirsten smoothly transitioned into coaching, demonstrating his strategic insight and management skills. He notably led India to a historic World Cup victory in 2011 and helped the South African team reach the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.
Beyond international cricket, Kirsten’s coaching career includes stints in various franchise leagues around the world, such as the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash League in Australia.
