Former head coach Gary Kirsten has finally broken his silence on why he stepped down from coaching Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team.

In a candid conversation on the Wisden Cricket Patreon Podcast, Kirsten revealed that internal politics and lack of authority made his job impossible.

Kirsten, who took charge in April 2024, said things went downhill quickly when he was excluded from the team selection process. “They removed my name from the selection committee and handed me a pre-decided playing XI,” he explained. “At that point, there was nothing left for me to contribute as a coach.”

The South African cricket legend described his brief coaching stint as “chaotic” and said he quickly realized that his role was being undermined. “It became clear early on that I wouldn’t be allowed to do my job. As a coach, it was nearly impossible to positively impact the group,” Kirsten shared.

Despite the challenges, Kirsten hasn’t ruled out a return to Pakistani cricket in the future — but with conditions. “If I’m called back tomorrow, I’ll come — but only for the players,” he clarified. “I’m too old now to deal with other agendas. I just want to coach a cricket team and work with players.”

He also praised Pakistani cricketers, saying, “I really like them. They’re good people.”

Kirsten officially parted ways with the team just six months into his role, citing team selection process issues and external interference as the core reasons.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Mike Hesson as the new head coach ahead of Bangladesh’s tour. Under Hesson’s leadership, Pakistan swept the series 3-0 against the visiting Tigers — a promising start for a fresh chapter in Pakistan cricket.