"Discontent Sparks Resignation: Gary Kirsten's Fallout with PCB Over Captaincy Choice"

Former cricketer Basit Ali has revealed that Gary Kirsten was dissatisfied with the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to appoint Mohammad Rizwan as the white-ball captain. Kirsten had preferred a different candidate for the leadership role. The past 24 hours have been tumultuous for Pakistan cricket, marked by Rizwan's ascension to captaincy and Kirsten's resignation as T20I and ODI coach, followed by Jason Gillespie's appointment as the all-format head coach. Basit noted that Kirsten believed he held "full authority" over such decisions, but failed to recognize the PCB's shifting dynamics. "It all started when Rizwan was named captain. Kirsten wanted someone outside the current squad to lead. He thought he had full authority, but in our country, the PCB chairman can change overnight," Basit stated on his YouTube channel. Rizwan officially took over from Babar Azam on Sunday, with Salam Ali Agha serving as his deputy for upcoming tours. Kirsten's resignation, confirmed within 24 hours of Rizwan's appointment, concluded his six-month tenure without overseeing a single ODI match.