Lahore: South African cricket legend Gary Kirsten has officially joined the Pakistan national team as the new white-ball head coach, arriving in the United Kingdom ahead of the T20I series against England. Kirsten was warmly welcomed in Leeds by senior manager Wahab Riaz, team captain Babar Azam, and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, who presented him with the team’s training shirt.
Kirsten’s appointment follows the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) recent announcement of new coaching staff for different formats. While Kirsten will focus on T20I and ODI formats, Australia’s Jason Gillespie has been appointed as the red-ball coach for Test matches.
A distinguished former cricketer, Kirsten represented South Africa in 101 Tests and 185 ODIs from 1993 to 2004, scoring 14,087 runs with 34 centuries. As a coach, he led India to victory in the 2011 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and guided them to the top of the ICC Test Team Rankings. He also coached South Africa to the No. 1 spot on the ICC Test Team Rankings during his tenure from 2011 to 2013.
Kirsten expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating that his goal is to ensure the Pakistan team operates at its optimal level in white-ball cricket.
The first T20I match between Pakistan and England is scheduled for May 22 at Headingley, Leeds. This series is particularly crucial as the T20 World Cup will commence just two days after its conclusion in the United States. Pakistan is in Group A, along with India, Ireland, Canada, and the USA, while England is in Group B with Australia, Namibia, Scotland, and Oman.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
