Gary Kirsten Resigns Amid PCB Conflicts

Gary Kirsten resigned as Pakistan's white-ball coach after only six months, amid reported conflicts with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over team management decisions, notably the appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as captain. Kevin Pietersen criticized Pakistan for losing such a reputed coach, while former cricketer Basit Ali attributed Kirsten’s departure to his disagreement with PCB's leadership structure and selection autonomy. Despite a successful Test series against England, Kirsten's tenure was marred by a disappointing T20 World Cup performance. Jason Gillespie has been appointed as interim coach for the upcoming series against Australia, but he too expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of involvement in team selection. The PCB is considering candidates like Aaqib Javed and Saqlain Mushtaq for the permanent coaching role as they face a busy white-ball schedule leading up to the Champions Trophy.