LAHORE (WS News) – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday named former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie new head coach of the One-Day International (ODI) and T20 teams.
According to the PCB, “Jason Gillespie has been appointed as the head coach of the white-ball cricket team for the tour of Australia after the resignation of Gary Kirsten.”
It may be recalled that Kirsten had a few hours earlier resigned as white-ball coach and the PCB accepted the resignation.
According to PCB insiders, the board had been tasked to select a new coach by the chief after “differences” with Kirsten surfaced.
There were rumours that talks with former cricketer Aaqib Javed were in “the final stages” for the coveted post.
GARY KIRSTEN
Head coach of Pakistan’s white-ball team Gary Kirsten resigned due to “differences with the PCB.” There were rumours of differences between the coach and the PCB management over team selection and support staff.
It has been reported that former South African player Kirsten wanted “inclusion of preferred people in the selection committee, central contract and support staff.”
According to sources, he had disagreement with the PCB on some conditions of his contract. Kirsten was allowed one-month vacation under the contract but was adamant to come to Pakistan only during the camp and series.
He did not come to Pakistan after the Champions Cup.
Sources said Kirsten developed differences on the contract of David Reid and threatened not to go on the tour of Australia.
Kirsten signed the contract for two years in May and joined the national team in the US 10 days before the start of T20 World Cup.
Kirsten was unhappy at curtailing his authority. He reportedly expressed his dismay over grant of more authority to the selection committee on the 15-member team and the playing eleven.
It may be noted that after the formation of new selection committee, the powers of the captain and coach were reduced.
