April 28th 2024.
The Pakistan Cricket Board made some exciting announcements on Sunday regarding the coaching staff for the national team. In a media conference, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi revealed that renowned coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie have been appointed as the head coaches for the ODI and T20I formats, respectively. In addition, former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood will serve as the assistant coach for all formats.
These appointments are for a duration of two years, and Naqvi emphasized that the coaches will not be evaluated until the end of their term. He expressed his confidence in the capabilities of Kirsten and Gillespie, stating that their high-profile backgrounds demonstrate the value and potential that foreign coaches see in the Pakistani players.
Naqvi also mentioned that the PCB is committed to providing the best facilities for the team, which is why they have chosen Kirsten and Gillespie for these roles. Kirsten, who is currently mentoring the IPL team Gujarat Titans, is expected to join the team for their tour of England in May. On the other hand, Gillespie will join the team in August before the start of their Test schedule.
When asked about the availability of the coaches, Naqvi clarified that they will mostly be with the team and take vacations as per their contracts. He also highlighted the role of the foreign coaches in improving the domestic cricket structure and assisting the local coaches.
Mahmood, who was the interim coach for the T20I series against New Zealand, stressed the importance of discipline and unconventional thinking for the Pakistani players. He believes that in order to keep up with the changing times in cricket, the players need to be open to new ideas and strategies.
The PCB has been on the lookout for a full-time head coach since the 2019 World Cup, where Pakistan failed to make it to the knockout stages. After a disappointing performance, the entire coaching staff was replaced, and the team has been struggling to find a permanent solution since then.
The PCB had initially appointed Muhammad Hafeez as the guiding role for the tour of Australia, but he was replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood for white-ball and Test captaincy, respectively. However, after a series of losses, Babar Azam was reinstated as the captain of all formats.
Despite approaching top names like Matthew Hayden and Shane Watson, the PCB was unable to find a suitable head coach until they secured the services of Kirsten and Gillespie. This is the first time the PCB has appointed separate foreign coaches for different formats.
Naqvi explained that the decision to bring in foreign coaches was to maintain a balance and utilize the talent in the country. He also acknowledged that there are some fitness issues in the team, and having the best options from outside the country will help in addressing those challenges. With these highly experienced coaches on board, the PCB is hopeful for a successful future for the national team.
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