PCB appoints India's ODI WC wining coach Gary Kirsten as white-ball coach, Jason Gillespie named Test coach

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed India's 2011 ODI World Cup winning coach Gary Kirsten as their new white-ball coach. The PCB also appointed former Australia pace bowler Jason Gillespie as the red-ball coach.

The decision was announced byPCB chief Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday (Apr 28) at a press conference in Lahore. The head coach position had been lying vacant since Grant Bradburn left the job in January thisyear. Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood had been the acting coach in the interim period.

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With new coaches being appointed, Mahmood will continue to be the assistant coach for both the head coaches.

Speaking on the appointment of foreign coaches, the PCB chairman said: "We have maintained a balance for this, there's a lot of talent in our country as well. We're not that far ahead in medical sciences which is why there are some fitness issues in our country. We wanted the best of the best because closing our options to get the best options from outside our country may not get us the best results."

"Jason's coaching career has been marked by success both at the domestic and international levels, with a focus on player development and achieving excellence in team performance. Gary's coaching career has been marked by his ability to instill a winning mentality, develop young talent, and achieve success at the highest levels of the game, making him one of the most respected and sought-after coaches in cricket," Naqvi further added.

Both the coaches have been given a two-year contract and PCB is keen to have them full-time around rather than just being with the team around a series.

While Kirsten's first series will be the tour of England from May 22 after which the team will fly to the USA and Caribbean for the T20 World Cup. Gillespie, on the other hand, has his first series against Bangladesh in August during which Pakistan will play two Tests.