Former India head coach Gary Kirsten appointed consultant for Namibia men’s team

Former India head coach Gary Kirsten has taken up a new role in international cricket, joining the Namibia men’s national team as a consultant. The appointment, confirmed by Cricket Namibia and reported by ESPNcricinfo, marks a significant boost for the side as they gear up for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, which Namibia will co-host along with South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Kirsten will work closely with Craig Williams, the former Namibia international who currently serves as the team’s head coach. Expressing his enthusiasm, Kirsten said he was “thoroughly impressed” with Namibia’s commitment to building a high performance cricket environment. He praised the board’s efforts, especially the development of a new state of the art cricket stadium designed to elevate the national team’s competitive standards.

Namibia have been a consistent presence in recent ICC global events, having qualified for the T20 World Cups in 2021, 2022, and 2024. With another major tournament approaching in February next year, the board believes Kirsten’s experience will add depth and direction to the Eagles setup.

Cricket Namibia described his appointment as a strategic move to strengthen its high performance ecosystem and support the existing coaching framework. The board highlighted Kirsten’s rich blend of international playing experience, coaching accomplishments, and his strong focus on player development.

Kirsten, one of South Africa’s most accomplished batters, amassed over 7000 Test runs and nearly 6800 ODI runs between 1993 and 2004. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching and famously guided India to their 2011 ICC ODI World Cup triumph. His recent stint was with the Pakistan men’s team in 2024 before stepping down.

Kirsten’s addition is expected to provide Namibia with both stability and strategic insight as they prepare to host and compete in one of the sport’s biggest stages.