Former Pakistan coach backs Kirsten and Gillespie amid challenges

Former Pakistan cricket coach Dav Whatmore has shared his thoughts on the complexities of coaching the Pakistan national team and reflected on his own tenure.

In a recent interview at a local sports platform, Whatmore stated that he chatted with Gillespie and emphasized the importance of staying calm while navigating the challenges of coaching Pakistan's national cricket team.

"I spoke to Jason Gillespie when I was in Australia. I just shared my thoughts and feelings from my three years there. You need to stay calm and collected and do your work as best as you can. It will be a learning experience for him, no question. I think he will do well, to be honest. He's got the temperament to come over and fulfill his duties, whether it's for a year or two. During my time, it was two years, and I completed that period, which not many coaches have done. Before I came, there were several coaches who never completed their term, but thankfully, I did," Whatmore said.

Pakistan's disappointing campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup ended in the first stage, with unexpected defeats against the USA and arch-rivals India.

This tournament was Gary Kirsten's first task as the white-ball coach, marking a challenging start to his tenure. Whatmore suggests that Kirsten's coaching role may be more complex than it appears.

"I guess when you have a result like that, no one's happy with it if you have anything to do with Pakistan cricket. But I guess from there, there's only one way to go, and that's up in some ways. It looks like we have already seen changes in the selection committee, and whether there will be further casualties as a result of those performances, time will tell. But yeah, I can tell you his job might not be that easy I can tell you," he said.

On April 28th, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Gary Kirsten from South Africa as the white-ball coach and Jason Gillespie from Australia as the red-ball coach for the men's national cricket team.