Pakistan coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie consult PCB over captaincy changes

The only thing about Pakistan Cricket that has fared faster than the transformation in the PCB top management is the transition between team captains across the formats. Over the recent years, Pakistan cricket team went from having Babar Azam as its skipper to Shaheen Afridi to Azam being selected back in the role. As for the red-ball format, Shan Masood recently took over the leadership reins as Babar Azam left the position. Now, following the 2-0 whitewash against Bangladesh at home for Pakistan, speculations are rife about the PCB management looking to sack Masood from Test captaincy. However, in the latest update, Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie have urged the country's cricket board to avoid hasty decisions regarding captaincy changes following recent disappointing performances.

Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie stand against rapid captaincy changes within Pakistan team

Babar Azam was removed from the white ball captaincy after Pakistan's early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, and his successor, Shaheen Shah Afridi, was dismissed after a single poor series. Similarly, in Test cricket, Shan Masood was appointed captain after Babar's resignation, but following a 0-2 series loss to Bangladesh, there have been calls for his immediate removal.

However, a PCB source informed PTI that recent media rumours about potential sackings of Masood and Babar are mere speculation. According to the source, both the newly appointed head coaches of Pakistan Cricket Team, Gary Kirsten, the white-ball coach and Gillespie, the red-ball coach, have expressed a desire for stability in leadership and have communicated this preference to the board.

“There has been no discussion on changing the captains as the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has left it up to the two coaches and selectors to decide on the captaincy,” he said. “And Kirsten and Gillespie are very clear that Shan and Babar both need to be given a proper run before judging their leadership abilities,” the source added.

The source also clarified that discussions about captaincy or team selections will not be on the agenda at the board's one-day workshop, titled Cricket Connection, scheduled for later this month in Lahore. Gillespie, who will participate via video link, and Kirsten, who will attend in person, have advised the PCB chief that maintaining patience and consistency in policies is essential for achieving long-term success across formats.

“That workshop is being held to hear the views of all stakeholders, mainly the domestic team coaches, selectors and contracted players so that the board is able to bridge the gap between domestic cricket and international cricket standards,” the source informed. “The workshop is basically being held because both the coaches want the domestic team coaches to have a clear picture of what is required from them to ensure a flow of players who can be considered for selection for the national teams in all formats,” he further added.

The source, furthermore, confirmed that Babar Azam is likely to continue as the team captain for the upcoming ODI series in Australia and South Africa and the ICC Champions Trophy slated for February 2025. As per the information, Babar might be retained to ensure continuity in the white ball formats and bring back stability within the Pakistan team.