Gary Kirsten likely to quit as the white-ball coach of Pakistan

Veteran Gary Kirsten's tenure with the Pakistan team is likely to have come to an end. While there has been no official announcement there, likely, the World Cup-winning former coach of India will not be travelling to Australia with the team as well. Part of the 15-member ODI squad will depart on Monday, with the rest following on Tuesday-but Kirsten will not be there among them heading to Australia.

However, as per reports, differences of opinion between Kirsten and the players could be the reason. Meanwhile, the board didn't approve Kirsten's request to appoint David Reid as a High-Performance coach. Instead, the PCB reportedly suggested alternatives, which were different from Kirsten's.

Kirsten won't be travelling to Australia with the team

However, Kirsten did not respond to a message from Cricbuzz, and it remains unclear whether he is going to quit. However, he will not travel to Zimbabwe too, where Pakistan are set to play three ODIs and three T20Is as well. The squads for both tours were announced on Sunday when the PCB named Mohammad Rizwan as their new full-time white-ball captain as well.

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Meanwhile, just over four months into his term, things look to have deteriorated in the white-ball squad, leading to speculation in the Pakistani media about Gary Kirsten's exit as well. With less than four months to the all-important Champions Trophy, the PCB may now have to look for a new white-ball coach too as well. It is not an ideal situation as Pakistan will be hosting the mega event for the first time in over two decades.

Pakistan didn't have a great time under Kirsten

However, a new coach will likely be announced immediately. While PCB could ask Jason Gillespie, the red-ball coach, they could appoint Aaqib Javed, the former Pakistan pacer, as the white-ball coach for the series as well. Aaqib, currently a national selector, has been credited for the turnaround in the Pakistan team's fortunes in the recently concluded three-match Test home series against England which they won 2-1 as well.

However, Gary Kirsten took over Pakistan's white-ball team coaching in mid-May, after completing his assignment with the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well. He also joined the team in England where Pakistan faced a bilateral series defeat to Jos Buttler's side. The team also struggled in the T20 World Cup, with a defeat against the hosts the United States and a close defeat to Team India that damaged their chances of qualifying for the knockouts of the marquee event as well.