Gary Kirsten Explains Decision to Join Pakistan after Winning World Cup with India

Kirsten has had successful coaching roles with India and South Africa in the past, including a highlight with the MS Dhoni-led side winning the 2011 OD World Cup. He has now been appointed as the head coach for the Pakistan men’s national team in white-ball cricket, with former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood as the assistant coach.

Kirsten’s primary aim remains to unite and strengthen the Pakistan white-ball team, emphasizing continuity in team selections and creating a stable and consistent environment for the players to excel. His strategy focuses on building strong team dynamics to achieve success in international competitions.

Kirsten aims to harness the considerable talents of the Pakistan men’s white-ball team towards a common objective and to achieve success on the field. He is set to take over from Pakistan’s tour of England from May 22, leading up to the T20 World Cup in June.

Pakistan had been on the search for a full-time head coach since the 50-over World Cup last year, which resulted in the dismissal of the entire set of coaching staff after their shambolic performance. Premier batter Babar Azam was removed from the captaincy, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood taking leadership roles in the white-ball and Test formats respectively.

Despite approaching top names like Matthew Hayden and Shane Watson, Pakistan could not find a full-time head coach until Kirsten’s appointment. In addition to coaching the Pakistan team, Kirsten is currently the mentor of IPL side Gujarat Titans.

He is focused on contributing positively to the Pakistan men’s national team in limited-overs cricket and creating a cohesive and successful unit.