Wed Oct 30 05:49:40 UTC 2024: ## Kirsten’s Resignation Linked to Disagreement over Pakistan White-Ball Captaincy

**Karachi, Pakistan:** Former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten’s abrupt resignation as Pakistan’s T20I and ODI coach has been linked to a disagreement over the appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball captain, according to former cricketer Basit Ali.

Kirsten, who joined Pakistan in February, believed he had the authority to appoint a different captain, someone outside the current limited-overs team, and was reportedly unhappy with the PCB’s decision to name Rizwan as skipper. “He thought he had full authority, but he doesn’t realize that in our country, the PCB chairman can change overnight,” Ali said on his YouTube channel.

Rizwan was appointed captain on Sunday, replacing Babar Azam, just hours before the PCB announced Kirsten’s departure. The former coach’s tenure lasted only six months, during which he failed to lead Pakistan to a single ODI victory.

Kirsten’s resignation comes as a shock, particularly as his main focus was the upcoming 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the recent T20 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage, has also been attributed to the coach’s resignation.

The PCB has swiftly appointed Australian Jason Gillespie as the new all-format head coach, replacing Kirsten.

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