Gary Kirsten Reflects on Challenging Pakistan Coaching Stint After taking charge of the Sri Lankan cricket team, Gary Kirsten has revisited a brief yet complex chapter of his coaching career—his time with Pakistan. The tenure, which lasted just five months and included six T20 matches, was described by Kirsten as “pretty much incidental in terms of an experience.” However, the memories of the people he worked with left a lasting impression. Kirsten, who led India to victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup, served as Pakistan’s head coach from April to October 2024. His departure came amid tensions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over issues such as team selection, captaincy decisions, and external interference. One of the key conflicts arose when the PCB appointed Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s white-ball captain, a move Kirsten strongly disagreed with. In an interview with BBC, Kirsten candidly discussed the challenges he faced during his time in Pakistan. He highlighted the recurring issue of interference, which he described as “intimidating” and “involved.” While he did not name specific individuals, he emphasized that the lack of autonomy as a coach undermined his ability to fulfill his role. “Throughout my career, I’ve experienced different levels of interference across countries,” Kirsten explained. “The real challenge was the extent to which it could feel overwhelming. If you have no influence as a coach, what’s the point? I’ve dedicated 38 years to cricket because I believe in adding value. If that’s lost, I don’t see the purpose of the job.” For someone with nearly four decades of experience in the sport, the absence of influence was more than frustrating—it contradicted his core belief in coaching.#icc_men_s_t20_world_cup #pakistan_cricket_board #mohammad_rizwan #gary_kirsten #bbc
Gary Kirsten Appointed Sri Lanka Head Coach for Two-Year Term Gary Kirsten, the former India World Cup-winning coach, has been appointed as the head coach of the Sri Lanka men’s cricket team on a two-year contract starting April 15. The decision was announced by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as part of its efforts to revamp the National High Performance Center and strengthen the national team ahead of major global tournaments. Kirsten’s tenure will focus on preparing Sri Lanka for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which is set to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Kirsten, a former South Africa opener and now a seasoned coach, will remain in the role until April 14, 2028. His coaching career includes guiding India to the 2011 World Cup title during his tenure from 2008 to 2011. After India, he served as head coach of South Africa from 2011 to 2013, during which the Proteas reached the top of the world rankings across all three formats of the game. Most recently, he worked as a consultant for Cricket Namibia during the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka’s international performance in recent years has been inconsistent, with the team undergoing several rebuilds following the retirement of key players. As co-hosts of the T20 World Cup, they failed to advance beyond the semifinals. Kirsten’s appointment aims to address these challenges and position Sri Lanka as a competitive force in the 2027 tournament. The 58-year-old coach’s responsibilities will include overseeing the Sri Lanka National Men’s Team’s preparation and campaign for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. His playing career, spanning from 1993 to 2004, saw him become one of South Africa’s leading batters, amassing 14,087 runs across Tests and One-Day Internationals, including 21 centuries in Tests and 13 in ODIs.#south_africa #t20_world_cup #gary_kirsten #sri_lanka_cricket #icc_men_s_cricket_world_cup_2027
Sri Lanka Cricket Appoints Gary Kirsten as New Head Coach Sri Lanka Cricket has officially announced the appointment of former South African opener Gary Kirsten as their new head coach. The 58-year-old will assume his role on 15 April following a two-year contract. His tenure will include overseeing the team’s preparations for the 2027 50-over World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Kirsten’s coaching career includes leading India to the 2011 Cricket World Cup title and helping South Africa achieve the top ranking in all formats of the game in 2013. Prior to joining Sri Lanka, he served as a consultant for Namibia during their participation in the T20 World Cup. His most recent coaching position was with Pakistan’s limited-overs teams, but he resigned from that role in October 2024, just six months into a two-year contract. The Sri Lankan team, which recently exited the T20 World Cup, will face Afghanistan in three T20 Internationals this month. They are also set to play three T20Is and three ODIs in England in September. Sanath Jayasuriya, the previous head coach, had announced his resignation following the team’s exit from the T20 World Cup. Kirsten’s playing career with South Africa spanned from 1993 to 2004, during which he scored 14,087 runs across 101 Test matches and 185 one-day internationals. He achieved 21 Test centuries and 13 ODI centuries. His appointment marks a significant shift for Sri Lanka as they aim to rebuild their cricketing fortunes ahead of major international tournaments.#south_africa #t20_world_cup #gary_kirsten #sri_lanka_cric #sanath_jayasuriya
Sri Lanka appoint new head coach for men's team | ICC Sri Lanka has appointed Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of their men’s cricket team. The former South African international will take charge for a two-year term beginning April 15, 2026. Kirsten, a former South African player who represented his country between 1993 and 2004, has built a reputation as a successful coach across multiple nations. His most notable achievement came during his tenure with the Indian team, where he led them to victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. He later guided South Africa from 2011 to 2013, a period during which the Proteas climbed to the top of the world rankings in all formats by 2013. In his most recent role, Kirsten served as a consultant for Namibia during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. His playing career saw him accumulate over 14,000 international runs, including 21 Test centuries and 13 One Day International centuries. Kirsten’s primary focus will now be on preparing Sri Lanka for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. The tournament will mark a significant opportunity for the team to showcase its progress under his leadership.#icc #namibia #sri_lanka #gary_kirsten #icc_cricket_world_cup
