Gary Kirsten Joins Namibia Men's Cricket Team as Consultant
Kirsten's New Role with Namibia
Gary Kirsten, the former head coach of the Indian cricket team, has taken on the role of consultant for the Namibia men's national cricket team, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. He will collaborate with Craig Williams, a former Namibia cricketer who serves as the head coach of the team.
Kirsten Aims to Enhance Team Performance
"Working with Cricket Namibia is a true honor. I am genuinely impressed by their commitment to fostering a high-performance cricket environment," Kirsten stated in a press release from Cricket Namibia, as cited by ESPNcricinfo. Namibia has successfully qualified for the last three ICC T20 World Cups (2021, 2022, and 2024) and will co-host the 2026 T20 World Cup alongside South Africa and Zimbabwe.
"The new state-of-the-art cricket stadium exemplifies their dedication to ensuring that their national teams compete at the highest level. The senior men's team is performing admirably, and I am eager to contribute to their preparations for the T20 World Cup scheduled for February next year," he added.
Commitment to High-Performance Cricket
Cricket Namibia's board expressed that Kirsten's appointment underscores their commitment to enhancing the high-performance framework and supporting the current coaching staff. "His extensive international playing background, coaching achievements, and enthusiasm for player development will provide valuable insights and depth to the Eagles men's national team," the board's statement noted.
Kirsten's Impressive Cricket Career
From 1993 to 2004, Kirsten was one of South Africa's premier batsmen, accumulating 7,289 runs in 101 Test matches, which included 21 centuries and 34 half-centuries. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he scored 6,798 runs in 185 matches, with 13 centuries and 45 fifties.
After retiring, Kirsten transitioned into coaching, becoming the head coach of India in 2007. Under his leadership, India clinched the ICC ODI World Cup in 2011. Most recently, he was appointed as the head coach of the Pakistan men's team in 2024 before stepping down.