Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has blasted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for letting Gary Kirsten leave from his duties as white-ball coach. The PCB announced their approval of Kirsten’s resignation on Monday, just days ahead of Pakistan’s white-ball series against Australia.
The Protean resigned from his role as ODI and T20I coach, only six months after being appointed in April 2024. The 2011 World Cup-winning coach signed a two-year contract, in an aim to stabilise the cricket ecosystem in Pakistan.
Pietersen, who has been quite vocal about the talent in Pakistan cricket in his recent tweets, lambasted the management for not utilising the most out of the recently-resigned head coach, Gary Kirsten.
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What did Kevin Pietersen say about PCB’s approval of Gary Kirsten’s resignation?
Kevin Pietersen slammed the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB for letting Gary Kirsten leave at the first demand of resignation. His request to resign could have been stalled, had PCB chosen to do so.
The Englishman also urged PCB to not stamp on their own foot, after the destabilising last twelve months. After the group-stage elite at the ODI World Cup 2023, the PCB have hired various personnel in the coaching/team director role. This has not got them any further, as the team exited the T20 World Cup 2024 at the same stage, just seven months later.
He referred to Pakistan’s recent Test-series win over England, calling it a step forward while labelling Kirsten’s resignation as ‘two steps back’.
How can Pakistan Cricket lose Gary Kirsten’s with his resumè in coaching?
One step forward the last few weeks and two steps back today!
Stop doing it to yourselves. Too much talent to keep doing this kind of stuff!— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) October 28, 2024
MORE: Why did Gary Kirsten leave Pakistan’s coaching role?
What next for Pakistan?
Jason Gillespie is announced as Pakistan’s interim head coach in the white-ball format for the series against Australia. The former Aussie pacer will lead Mohammad Rizwan & Co. against and in his own country.
Pakistan will face Australia in the first ODI at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 04, 2024. The three-match ODI series will be followed by a three-match T20I series, starting November 14.
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