Gary Kirsten Reveals ‘Too Much Interference’ Forced Him to Quit Pakistan Coaching Role Early

March 22, 2026: Former South Africa cricketer and 2011 World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten has shared his difficult experience while working as the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team. Speaking to talkSPORT Cricket, Kirsten said that the work environment and too much outside interference forced him to leave the role early. He was appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball coach in April 2024 for a two-year contract, but he left after just six months.

Kirsten said he was surprised by the high level of interference in the team, something he had never seen before. He also mentioned that constant outside pressure made it hard for him to do his job properly. According to him, there was too much noise from outside, and strict actions were taken after poor performances, which made the environment difficult for both players and staff.

Gary Kirsten has opened up on his stint as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, expressing concern over the level of external interference.

“The thing that surprised me was the level of interference.”

~ Gary Kirsten pic.twitter.com/zHCu0ZNDeu

— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) March 21, 2026

Constant Pressure Made the Job Difficult

Kirsten explained that it was hard to build a proper plan for the team because of the constant outside pressure. He said that coaches often become the easiest target when the team does not perform well. He believes that removing or restricting a coach is not the right solution and can hurt the team’s progress.

After the T20 World Cup 2026, Kirsten was appointed as the head coach of the Sri Lanka cricket team on a two-year contract starting from April 15, 2026. He will remain in the role until April 2028. Under his guidance, Sri Lanka will prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. During the T20 World Cup 2026, Kirsten also worked as a consultant with Cricket Namibia.