Gary Kirsten Appointed to Oversee Champions Cup

Gary Kirsten, the head coach of Pakistan's white-ball team, will oversee the domestic Champions Cup, requiring all contracted players to participate as part of their preparation for the upcoming season. He will be joined by physiotherapist Cliff Deacon and strength coach Dreks Simon, who will assess player performance and conduct fitness tests for both the white-ball and Test squads. Despite a disappointing 0-2 loss to Bangladesh in a recent Test series, no major changes are anticipated in team management, as Kirsten and red-ball head coach Jason Gillispie have been granted full authority by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The Champions Cup will take place at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29, serving as a key evaluation platform before the World Test Championship series against England and an ODI series against Australia later this year. A team of experienced mentors has also been appointed to support the tournament, emphasizing a commitment to strengthening domestic cricket in Pakistan.