Kirsten to take charge in limited overs formats and Gillespie in Tests after months of turmoil in Pakistan cricket.
The announcement at the PCB headquarters in Lahore follows months of turmoil at the board, where the coaching staff, captains and management went through several changes after Pakistan finished fifth at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, failing to qualify for the semifinals.
Kirsten led India to its second World Cup title in 2011 and has also coached South Africa’s men’s team in addition to several stints in club and franchise cricket.
Meanwhile Gillespie, who played 71 Tests and 91 one-day internationals (ODIs), will take charge immediately, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday.
“I’m really keen for Pakistan to play our way,” Gillespie told Al Jazeera shortly before his appointment was confirmed.
The tall pacer, nicknamed Dizzy, said he wants the team to “be authentic and genuine”.
“Let’s entertain our fans with a bit of fun and play with smiles on our faces,” Gillespie said.
The 49-year-old will take up the role with immediate effect.
Grant Bradburn left as Pakistan’s head coach in January, two months after the World Cup, followed by the departures of team director Mickey Arthur and batting coach Andrew Puttick in quick succession.
Former Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez replaced Bradburn and Arthur as head coach and team director following the team’s unsuccessful tour of Australia and New Zealand. Pakistan were whitewashed 3-0 in the Test series against world champions Australia and lost the T20 series against New Zealand 4-1.
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Gillespie made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1996 becoming the first acknowledged Aboriginal descendant to represent Australia in the longest form of cricket.
Despite injury plaguing his career, Gillespie became his country’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 259 victims at an average of 26.
Gillespie was also the bowling coach of the Indian Premier League team Kings XI Punjab before he was appointed head coach at Yorkshire, where he had spent two seasons towards the end of his playing career.
One of the finest moments for Gillespie came with the bat when he scored an unbeaten 201 against Bangladesh in the second Test in 2006. Having come in as a nightwatchman at three, the right-hander batted for 574 minutes facing 425 deliveries and helped to set up an innings and 80-run victory in the 2-0 series win, in which he claimed eight wickets and was named the player of the series.