Gary Kirsten makes huge statement after becoming the Pakistan cricket team's coach in white-ball format, says 'My goal is to unite the...'

Former South Africa batter and World Cup-winning coach, Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the white-ball coach of the Pakistan cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. With his appointment, his primary goal is to unify Pakistan's white-ball team. Pakistan recently underwent a change in T20I captaincy, with Babar Azam being reappointed as captain, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi who had taken over after the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, Afridi only led the team in one series against New Zealand, which they lost 1-4.

Gary Kirsten boasts an impressive coaching record. He led the Indian cricket team to a World Cup victory in 2011 and coached the South African team during which they ascended to the number one spot in Test rankings. He is currently serving as a mentor for the Gujarat Titans in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Upon his appointment, Kirsten expressed his view of this role as a significant opportunity to coach Pakistan’s white-ball team.

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"It's a tremendous honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Pakistan men's national team in white-ball cricket and to rejoin the international cricket arena after some time. I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to contribute positively to the Pakistan men's national team in limited-overs cricket," Kirsten was quoted as saying in the PCB release.

Unity remains priority for Gary Kirsten

Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup 2024, set to take place in the USA and the West Indies, Kirsten emphasised his commitment to uniting the Pakistan white-ball team. This comes at a time when reports of internal rifts have surfaced, notably with players like Imad Wasim and Mohammed Amir making comebacks from retirement.

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"One of the beautiful aspects of cricket is its universality. Across cultures, there's a shared understanding when we discuss the game. My goal is to unite the Pakistan men's white-ball team, harnessing their considerable talents towards a common objective, and achieving success together on the field," Kirsten added. 

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