Gary Kirsten disappointed with Pakistan team’s lack of unity – Press

Gary Kirsten slammed the players, citing a lack of cohesion and basic skills, following the Pakistan men’s national team’s smooth elimination in the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. While Kirsten recalled the players after the final league match of the T20 World Cup, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh told his ex-coach to return to India and replace Rahul Dravid.

“There is no unity in the Pakistan team. They call themselves a team but they are not a team. They don’t support each other. Everyone is divided left and right. I have worked with a lot of teams and I have never seen anything like this,” Kirsten reportedly told the players after the final league match of the T20 World Cup between Pakistan and Ireland.

Pakistan were stunned by debutants USA in one of the biggest upsets of the T20 World Cup, before losing to arch rivals India despite only managing a modest run in a bowl-out.

According to a Geo Super News report, Kirsten was astonished at how far behind the players were in terms of technique and fitness, and also questioned the shot selection of the batsmen, telling them “no one knows which shot they’re going to play and when,” warning them for the future.

“Those who improve in these areas will be added to the team and those who don’t will be dropped,” Kirsten told the players, according to Geo Super News.

Kirsten, 56, is a former India coach who took charge of Pakistan’s white-ball team just before the T20 World Cup, while former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie will coach the red-ball team. Kirsten joined the Pakistan team during the series against England after wrapping up his stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

With Kirsten corroborating these reports with harsh criticism of his players, Pakistani media has gone wild with the coach’s sensational assessment. While reports say Kirsten voiced his views in the dressing room and not in public, they also point out that he did not spend enough time with the team before the big event and has not returned to Pakistan with the players. Kirsten has reportedly left for his native South Africa, while many of the players, including Babar Azam, will be taking a holiday abroad before returning to Pakistan.

While Pakistani media has reacted with shock to Kirsten’s comments, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has urged the South African not to waste his time in Pakistan cricket and rather return to India and replace Rahul Dravid.

Harbhajan weighed in on the controversy by commenting on social media and urging Kirsten to leave the Pakistan team.

“Gary, don’t waste your time there…come back as coach of the Indian national team…Gary Kirsten is one of those rare diamonds…A great coach, mentor, man of integrity and a dear friend to the entire 2011 team…2011 World Cup winning coach. A special man, Gary @Gary_Kirsten,” Harbhajan said in a social media post.

It is not just Kirsten who is responsible for the Pakistan team’s disastrous defeat, but former captain Wasim Akram too, who said Pakistan does not need any enemies, they need their own enemies.

Kirsten’s comments seem to support those views.

It will be interesting to see how the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responds to Kirsten’s comments about the players.

The PCB is expected to take tough decisions and make drastic changes to the squad and there are fears that Kirsten could be the first to be sacked, going by his latest assessment.