Why Gary Kirsten Resigned as Pakistan Coach
- Abeera Marium Siddiqui
- June 17, 2025
- 10:32 am
- 40
- Trending
Gary Kirsten’s Pakistan exit shocked many cricket fans and experts alike. Just six months after his appointment as the white-ball coach, he stepped down and finally spoke about what went wrong.
In a recent interview with the Wisden Cricket Patreon podcast, Kirsten shared the real reason behind his decision. He said he had no control over team matters. That lack of influence made it hard for him to do his job properly.
Kirsten joined the Pakistan setup in April 2024, while Jason Gillespie took over the Test team. Both came with strong resumes. However, their time with the team quickly turned sour. The main issue began when the PCB removed them from the selection process. They were not consulted when the squads for Australia and Zimbabwe tours were announced. That move was a clear sign that their input didn’t matter.
Kirsten said, “Once I was taken off selection and asked to take a team and not be able to shape the team, it became very difficult as a coach then to have any sort of positive influence on the group.” He added that it felt like he was only there in name, not in power.
This wasn’t just his experience. Gillespie also expressed frustration. He said he felt more like a match-day strategist than a head coach. When high-performance coach Tim Nielsen was removed, Gillespie also walked away. Kirsten explained that this pattern of excluding coaches from important decisions showed a deep flaw in the system.
Kirsten’s time with the team also included a poor performance in the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan faced a group-stage exit after losing to the USA and India. Even during this low point, Kirsten tried to support the players. He mentioned how much pressure they face. He said, “When they lose, it’s hectic for them. They feel that pressure more than any other team.”
Still, Kirsten didn’t blame the players. He showed deep respect for them and said he enjoyed working with them. His frustration was with the system and how decisions were made. He believes cricket teams need to be run by people who understand the game.
He said he might return to Pakistan coaching, but only if the conditions are right. “I would want to go under the right circumstances,” he noted. That means full control, clear roles, and less outside interference.
Gary Kirsten’s Pakistan exit highlights the larger issue of instability in the PCB. Even now, newly appointed coach Mike Hesson hasn’t been given a place on the selection panel. That could lead to another early exit if things don’t change.
