Pakistan Hire Legendary India Coach For T20 World Cup, Pick Starry Coaching Staff

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced the new head coaches for the senior men's national team. Former India head coach Gary Kirsten, who guided the MS Dhoni-led side to the World Cup in 2011, will take charge of the white ball teams, while former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie will take over the reigns in Test cricket. Meanwhile, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been named as the all-format assistant coach.

Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi made the announcement via press conference held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.

"Kirsten will take charge of the side immediately after completing his assignment in the Indian Premier League. During his tenure, besides the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 and other bilateral white-ball series, Kirsten will also be in charge of the side for next year's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka," PCB said in a statement.

"Gillespie will assume responsibilities for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh (at home in August), which will be followed by Tests against England (at home in October) and South Africa (away in December) in the 2024-25 season," the statement added.

Speaking on the appointments, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said: "I extend my congratulations to Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten on their appointments as the red and white-ball head coaches of the Pakistan men's cricket team, respectively. Their stellar track records precede them, and I warmly welcome them to the Pakistan cricket family."

"It's a tremendous honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Pakistan men's national team in white-ball cricket and to rejoin the international cricket arena after some time. I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to contribute positively to the Pakistan men's national team in limited-overs cricket," Kirsten was quoted as saying by PCB's website.

Gillespie thanked PCB for showing faith in him for the Test side's job. He said: "I am grateful to the PCB for their faith in my abilities and giving me the honour of coaching one of the most highly-regarded and talented cricket teams in the traditional format of the sport. Leading the Pakistan cricket team is a big achievement for any coach, given its rich legacy and passionate fan base."