Kirsten, who was appointed in April 2024 on a two-year contract, stepped down from his role as ODI and T20I coach after just six months, departing only days before Pakistan\u2019s scheduled ODI tour of Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kirsten said the extent of external influence on team affairs was unlike anything he had experienced before.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe thing that surprised me more than anything was the level of interference. I don\u2019t think I have ever seen it at that level before. Did it surprise me? I don\u2019t know, but it was significant,\u201d Kirsten told talkSPORT Cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Following his resignation, the PCB handed interim charge of the white-ball side to Test coach Jason Gillespie for the Australia tour, which included six limited-overs matches. However, Gillespie also stepped away from his role a few months later.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kirsten explained that the constant external pressure made it difficult to establish a stable working environment with the players.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt is quite difficult for a coach to come and formulate a way that you can work with the players when there is just this constant noise from the outside. It was tough, just this constant noise from the outside and a lot of punitive actions around poor performance and stuff like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He further noted that coaches often become easy targets when results do not go a team\u2019s way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt is quite difficult for a coach to come and formulate a way that you can work with the players when there is just this constant noise from the outside. It was tough, just this constant noise from the outside and a lot of punitive actions around poor performance and stuff like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gillespie, who briefly succeeded Kirsten in overseeing the white-ball setup, had earlier raised similar concerns. The former Australian pacer alleged contractual issues with the PCB, claiming unpaid dues and multiple breaches of agreement. In response, the board maintained that Gillespie had failed to honour the four-month notice period outlined in his contract.<\/p>\r\n\r\n