Gary Kirsten Sets His Targets As Pakistan White-Ball Head Coach, Aims To Win One Three ICC Events

Gary Kirsten is currently working as a mentor of IPL franchise Gujarat Titans. Under his guidance, India won the 2011 World Cup.

Karachi: Newly appointed Pakistan white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten has already set his targets clear as the former South African aims to win at least one out of three upcoming ICC events in next three years. Kirsten, who is currently mentor at Gujarat Titans in the ongoing Indian Premier League, has won the World Cup with India back in 2011. Among the marquee events lined up between now and 2026, there are two T20 World Cups in 2024 (Americas) and 2026 (India) along with the 2025 ODI Champions Trophy which PCB will be hosting and Kirsten wants Babar Azam and his men to annex one.

Kirsten’s link up with the Men in Green depends on Gujarat Titans’ chances to make the final four in IPL 2024. If Gujarat Titans make the playoffs, it would take Kirsten to join his boys after May 26. In case Gujarat Titans fail to make the final four, the former South Africa batter is expected to take charge of his new job from May 22 ahead of Pakistan’s tour of England.

“If you can win one of those three ICC Events, that will be an amazing achievement on its own, whether it’ the upcoming event (T20 World Cup) or it is two years from now,” Kirsten said in a PCB Podcast, when asked about his targets during his tenure.

Pakistan will play in three ICC Events – two T20 World Cups and one Champions Trophy. “My job is to make sure that the team operates at its best. If the team is operating at its best, we will always have a good chance of winning a trophy. So for me, it will be really important to understand where is the team now and where does it need to go to be able to compete right at the top of the pile, and that’s winning ICC events,” said the 56-year-old former left-handed batsman.

Kirsten admitted to the paucity of time for the T20 World Cup — to be held in June in the West Indies and USA — preparations as he will have to complete his IPL assignment. “It just so happened that I am on an assignment. So, it was difficult to move away, I’ve got to see my contract out here. But the plans are already in place.

“Azhar Mahmood as interim head coach is doing a great job. We are communicating at the moment. I’m getting to understand the team and how they’re playing. I’m watching them play, which is great. It is going to be a quick turnaround (for me), there’s no doubt, we just have to accept that. But, we are hoping that we can build some structures into the team over the course of the next three weeks or so to provide clarity that the players need going into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”