Appointments Of Kirsten, Gillespie As Coaches A Step In The Right Direction

Pakistan needed coaches like Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie. They got the two most accomplished coaches in international cricket. Kirsten will bring the homespun South African approach to the white-ball team, having guided India to the 2011 World Cup title. Gillespie has loads of experience of coaching and is credited for lifting Yorkshire to two back-to-back county titles in 2014 and 2015 in addition to Big Bash title for Adelaide Strikers in 2017-18. The striking feature of these two are that they do not have any ego and they back youngsters to the hilt. But the biggest challenge for these two stalwarts of coaching will be as to how to transform the inveterate Pakistan team to a consistent unit.

Ever since Mohsin Naqvi took over as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman he had made his mind to have foreign coaches for men’s and women’s national teams. But the problem with the hiring of foreign coaches has been their lack of availability. The top-notch coaches are mainly busy in T20 Leagues around the world and if a coach is engaged in three of them he is earning a handsome amount that he won’t get for a year-round work with an international team. So most of the top coaches like Andy Flower, Tom Moody, Simon Katich, Mike Hesson, Justin Langer, Kirsten etc. would not get into any job which is not only tension packed but keeps one busy the whole year. Kirsten had himself turned down offers from PCB in the past. Langer also did, and offers were also turned down by Matthew Hayden, Peter Moorse, Brendon McCullum, Stuart Law and Hesson.

Kirsten’s first challenge is the Twenty20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies but the chink is that he will only be joining the team after the Indian Premier League in which he is working with Gujrat Titans. It would be tough for him to analyse the players and form strategies within a few days of the World Cup. The best thing about Kirsten is that he is aware of the cricket culture in the subcontinent after his successful stint with India. He knows there will be criticism if the team loses. But he is firm in ignoring the noises after a defeat.

He also advocates consistency — something which a Pakistan team fan and those around it will welcome.

That is good news for players like Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed and Azam Khan. They need consistent chances to prove their talent and not remain frightened that one or two failures would put paid to their chances.

Gillespie is also a firm believer in young talent, having been credited with the development of England stars Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance and Joe Root during his time with Yorkshire. The former Australian bowler wants Pakistan team to be Pakistan team and not try to emulate or copy the style of other teams.

“I simply want the Pakistan cricket team to play the style of cricket that’s going to suit them; for me, that’s important,” said Gillespie.

History of sacking coaches:

Pakistan has a history of sacking their head coaches in the past, with South Africa Richard Pybus (three tenures), Australians Dav Whatmore, Geoff Lawson, and Bob Woolmer (South Africa) and Mickey Arthur (South Africa- twice) had stints with Pakistan team.

So instant are sacking of the coaches that Intikhab Alam — who was manager-cum-coach during the 1992 World cup triumph — was once sacked mid-way through a series after Pakistan trailed 2-0 in a three-match series against Sri Lanka in 1995.

“This is not the way to treat your coach,” Alam then said. “I served the team to the best of my ability and only the coach is not responsible for defeats.”

Pakistan’s legendary batsman Javed Miandad was not as successful in coaching. Two of his three tenures ended abruptly, once after defeat against arch-rivals India in 2004.

That brought Pakistan their longest serving coach, Bob Woolmer whose two-year nine months stint ended in a sudden death during the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, initially treated as a murder but proven natural after investigation.

The frequent changes synchronised with the changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board chairmanship as every head wanted his choice. That prompted several coaches to stay away from taking the bait.