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The sudden resignation of Gary Kirsten as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach has sparked controversy, with former cricketer Basit Ali alleging that the South African was forced out due to a disagreement over captaincy.
Kirsten’s appointment in April 2024 was met with high expectations, but his tenure was cut short following Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup. The PCB accepted his resignation without providing any specific reasons for his departure.
Basit Ali alleges captaincy dispute in Pakistan camp
Basit Ali, in a recent YouTube video, claimed that Kirsten’s departure was linked to his opposition to Mohammad Rizwan’s appointment as white-ball captain. He mince no words while speaking about PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi and suggested that Kirsten preferred a different captaincy option, raising concerns about the team’s direction.
“Mohsin Naqvi has come with a lot of power. The coaches, selectors and managers are being removed. Earlier, the chairman used to be changed from time to time. Now, whoever raises their voice will be sidelined,” Basit said.
Also READ: 3 reasons why Mohammad Rizwan’s appointment as Pakistan’s white-ball captain is a clever move by PCB
“The story started when Mohammad Rizwan was named Pakistan’s new white-ball captain. Kirsten wanted a different captain and demanded another player in the team.
“Coincidently, both of them are not in the team. He was thinking that maybe he could have full authority. However, he doesn’t know that in Pakistan, even the PCB chairman can get changed overnight,” Basit added.
Jason Gillespie replaces Gary Kirsten for Australia tour
In the wake of Kirsten’s resignation, Jason Gillespie, the current Test coach, has been appointed as the interim white-ball head coach for the upcoming tour of Australia.
As the controversy surrounding Kirsten’s departure continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Gillespie will take forward Pakistan’s limited-overs side after leading them to a historic Test series win over England.
