Jason Gillespie. (Source – Getty Images)
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that red-ball coach Jason Gillespie will take charge of the national team for their upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, following Gary Kirsten’s resignation from the head coach position.
Kirsten’s tenure with the Men in Green lasted for just six months after his appointment in April 2024. During his stint, Pakistan had a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup in the USA, where the team faced an early exit after losses to the USA and India in the first round.
Apart from change in the coaching setup the side also sees a leadership development, as Mohammad Rizwan was earlier appointed as the new white-ball captain, replacing Babar Azam who stepped down following recent poor performances. Gillespie, who was already part of the coaching setup, is all set to guide the white-ball team.
Also Read: Mohammad Rizwan replaces Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white-ball captain
Australia tour consists of three ODI and three T20I games
The trigger for these changes came after recent administrative decisions by the PCB. A rift had developed between the coaching staff and the board after coaches’ selection powers were taken away, with Gillespie previously expressing his surprise at these changes during recent England Test series.
Meanwhile, the upcoming tour of Australia consists of three ODIs and three T20Is across major Australian venues. The series kicks off with the first ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 4, followed by matches in Adelaide (November 8) and Perth (November 10). The T20I series will then move through Brisbane (November 14), Sydney (November 16), and conclude in Hobart (November 18).
This tour will see the return of Men in Green in a 50-over format since their World Cup campaign in India a year ago and is a crucial phase leading up to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Following the Australian tour, Pakistan have a packed schedule including a white-ball series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, culminating in a tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa in Multan before the Champions Trophy.