India, Mar 21 : Former Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten has opened up about his brief and turbulent tenure with the national cricket team, attributing his early exit to persistent interference from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Kirsten, appointed in April 2024 on a two year contract, resigned within six months, just a week before Pakistan’s scheduled ODI series in Australia. Following his departure, Test coach Jason Gillespie temporarily took charge of the white-ball teams but also left within months, highlighting instability in the coaching setup.
Speaking to talkSPORT Cricket, Kirsten described the “constant noise from the outside” as the most challenging aspect of his role. He said such interference made it difficult to implement strategies, build relationships with players, or maintain a stable coaching environment.
He further explained that coaches often become the first to bear the brunt when results falter, calling this approach counterproductive. “As a coach, you are the lowest hanging fruit when the team isn’t going well… that is kind of counterproductive in my view,” he said.
Kirsten’s revelations underline the challenges faced by foreign coaches in environments with heavy board involvement and the pressures of high expectations, emphasizing the need for clearer boundaries and support for coaching staff in international cricket.