ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday that white-ball Head Coach Gary Kirsten has resigned from his post, with test coach Jason Gillespie set to take over his place for the upcoming Australia tour. 

Kirsten was reportedly at odds with the PCB after it announced a new selection committee following Pakistan’s humiliating innings defeat to England in the first test match at Multan this month. 

The new selection committee, the third in three months, now comprises former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Hassan Cheema. Kirsten, Gillespie and the captain of the national squad, who were previously part of the selection committee, were removed from the panel. The new selection committee, Javed in particular, has risen in influence after their initiative to produce spin-friendly tracks in Multan and Rawalpindi helped Pakistan win the three-match test series against England 2-1.

“Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men’s cricket team on next month’s white-ball tour of Australia after Gary Kirsten submitted his resignation which was accepted,” the PCB said in a statement. 

The development takes place a day after the PCB announced central contracts for 25 cricketers and appointed wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan as the new Pakistan white-ball skipper. 

When the announcement was made at a press conference on Sunday, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was flanked by Javed, Ali, Rizwan and newly appointed vice-captain Salman Ali Agha. Kirsten was notably missing. 

His resignation comes days before Pakistan take on Australia for a limited-overs away series next month. The green shirts will play three ODIs against Australia on Nov. 8, 8 and 10 while it will play five T20Is against the Aussies on Nov. 14, 16 and 18. 

Kirsten, 56, is a former South African top-order batter who played 101 Test matches and 185 ODIs from 1993-2004 in which he scored a total of 14,087 runs and 34 centuries.

The former South Africa top-order batter played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs from 1993-2004 in which he accumulated a total of 14,087 runs with 34 centuries.

Kirsten coached India from 2008-2011 and helped them win the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2011 title and attain the number one position on the ICC Test Team Rankings.

He also coached South Africa men’s cricket team from 2011-2013 and inspired them to the number one position on the ICC Test Team Rankings.

Kirsten has coached Indian Premier League (IPL) teams Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, who won the 2022 IPL tournament. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government kicked off a nationwide campaign to administer anti-polio vaccine drops to over 45 million children today, Monday, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported, amid an alarming surge in cases in the South Asian country this year. 

The countrywide campaign will be conducted from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, especially in areas where the poliovirus is rampant. Polio volunteers aim to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five years old during the week-long campaign, the state-run media said. 

This is Pakistan’s third nationwide campaign against polio this year, launched in response to an alarming increase in polio cases with 41 reported so far across 71 districts. Last year, Pakistan reported only six cases of the infection. 

“Anti-polio vaccination campaign of varied duration begins across the country on Monday,” Radio Pakistan said. “Special teams of health department will go door to door to ensure that every child receives vaccine drops.”

Ayesha Raza Farooq, the prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment, saying that under PM Shehbaz Sharif’s guidance, the government is “re-energized” in its efforts to combat polio.

“Starting October 28, our polio workers will reach every corner of Pakistan, delivering the vaccine and securing a healthier future for our children,” Farooq said in a statement. 

She urged parents to prioritize vaccinations, warning that the virus was now present in 71 districts of the country. 

“The Government of Pakistan is bringing this vaccine directly to your doorsteps,” Farooq said. “Please welcome and support our dedicated health workers by ensuring your children are vaccinated.”

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. Since late 2018, Pakistan has seen a resurgence of cases and increased spread of poliovirus, highlighting the fragility of gains achieved in the preceding three years.

Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio have suffered due to frequent attacks on polio vaccination teams and security personnel protecting them.

Many in Pakistan believe the conspiracy theory that polio vaccines are part of a plot by Westerners to sterilize the country’s population. The masses’ doubts regarding polio campaigns were exacerbated in 2011 when the US Central Intelligence Agency set up a fake vaccination program to gather intelligence on former Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.