Gary Kirsten Reveals The Actual Reason Behind Pakistan Exit

Gary Kirsten’s tenure as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach came to an abrupt and disappointing end after just six months in charge, and until now, the former South African had not revealed the true reasons behind his departure.

The former batter has finally explained what led to his premature exit during a podcast with the Wisden Cricket Patreon podcast.

Appointed in April 2024 alongside Jason Gillespie, who was handed the Test coaching duties, Gary Kirsten’s short-lived stint was marred by internal dysfunction, which contributed to his decision to walk away. His resignation came shortly after the squads for Pakistan’s white-ball tours to Australia and Zimbabwe were announced, with neither Kirsten nor Gillespie consulted in the selection process—a move that signaled a breakdown in structure and authority.

Speaking candidly on the podcast, Kirsten revealed that his exit was driven by the lack of control he had over team decisions.

“It was a tumultuous few months,” Gary Kirsten said. “I realised quite quickly I wasn’t going to have much of an influence. 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.”

The shift came when Kirsten and Gillespie were both excluded from a newly constituted five-member selection panel, despite having only recently been entrusted with the responsibility of leading Pakistan’s cricketing resurgence. Gillespie had also complained of being reduced to a “match-day strategist” rather than being a coach, and it seems Gary Kirsten shared the same sentiments.

Their ouster highlighted a familiar theme in Pakistan cricket: instability behind the scenes. Just weeks later, Gillespie also stepped down, citing the removal of high-performance coach Tim Nielsen as the tipping point. In his own words, it left a “sour taste” in his coaching career.

For Kirsten, the writing was on the wall early. A decorated coach who previously guided India to a World Cup title, he found himself sidelined in a system where coaches lacked the influence needed to shape results.

The PCB, meanwhile, seems not to have learned from its mistakes yet, as Mike Hesson has not been revealed as part of the newest selection committee. Despite early positive signs, the New Zealander may be the next one to walk out the door if the board does not learn from the departure of Gary Kirsten. How it pans out remains to be seen.