Gary Kirsten joins Namibia as consultant for T20 World Cup
What's the story
Gary Kirsten, the legendary South African batter and coach, has been named as a consultant for Namibia's men's national team. He will work closely with head coach Craig Williams ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next year. Kirsten last worked in a coaching setup as Pakistan's head coach in 2024, a tenure that ended amid internal conflicts within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Admiration expressed
Kirsten impressed by Namibia's cricket growth
Upon joining Namibia, Kirsten expressed his admiration for the team's progress. He said he is impressed with their cricketing growth, dedication to improvement, and ability to challenge top teams. "It is indeed a privilege to work with Cricket Namibia," he said in a statement. "I have been thoroughly impressed with the dedication and determination to create a high-performance cricket environment."
Coaching journey
Coaching career and achievements
Kirsten, who scored plenty of runs across 101 Tests and 185 ODIs for South Africa, has been a successful coach. He became India's head coach in December 2007 and led them to a historic ODI World Cup title three years later. He has also coached South Africa and been part of several T20 franchise leagues. He was in the Gujarat Titans' coaching setup when they won IPL 2022. However, his term as Pakistan's head coach was short-lived and challenging.
Strategic move
Namibia's commitment to high performance
Kirsten is now set to mentor the Namibia cricket team, which has grown from strength to strength. "His blend of international playing experience, coaching success, and passion for player development brings valuable insight and added depth to the Eagles setup," a board statement said. Notably, Namibia have qualified for the last four Men's T20 World Cups (2021, 2022, 2024, and 2026).