The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the appointment of Jason Gillespie as the interim white-ball coach for the national cricket team, taking over from Gary Kirsten, who recently resigned from the position. Gillespie, who has been serving as the head coach of the Test team, will lead the squad during the upcoming series against Australia and Zimbabwe.

Kirsten's resignation comes just six months into his tenure, sparked by growing tensions with the PCB regarding team selection processes. Reports indicate that disagreements over the squad for the Australia and Zimbabwe series led to a breakdown in communication, culminating in Kirsten's decision to part ways with the PCB.

The PCB confirmed the news via social media, stating, "The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men's cricket team on next month's white-ball tour of Australia after Gary Kirsten submitted his resignation, which was accepted."

The internal rift within the PCB was reportedly exacerbated by the new selection committee's disregard for input from both Gillespie and captain Shan Masood regarding team selections. While Gillespie chose to remain with the team despite these challenges, Kirsten opted to resign, expressing his discontent with the lack of consideration for his recommendations.

Kirsten had been appointed as the white-ball coach in April 2024 on a two-year contract. However, following the team's lackluster performance in the recent T20 World Cup, doubts regarding his leadership and strategy emerged, ultimately leading to his departure.

With Gillespie at the helm, the PCB hopes to navigate the upcoming series successfully and reassess its coaching structure moving forward, with a full-time white-ball coach expected to be announced in the near future.