File photo of Shaheen Afridi© AFP

File photo of Pakistan cricket team pacer Shaheen Afridi© AFP

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi summoned white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten to talk about the team’s future according to Geo News. The meeting is being held in light of the recent criticism by some sections of fans and former Pakistan cricketers on the Men in Green’s performance in the T20 World Cup. In the marquee event, the Babar Azam-led side had a woeful campaign that saw them crash out in the group stage itself.

Last week, ESPNcricinfo reported that white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten and selector Wahab Riaz submitted their tour reports to Naqvi.

Sources informed Geo News that Naqvi would review the report that Kirsten submitted. The report highlights players’ discipline, game awareness, fitness and many other things.

It was also reported that the most important part of the discussion would be the future of Babar Azam as the white-ball skipper of the Pakistan team.

After Pakistan’s latest setback, Babar’s white-ball captaincy also became a subject of scrutiny. Former Pakistan cricketers criticised Babar’s leadership and captaincy skills.

Last Thursday, Naqvi shed light on Babar’s future as Pakistan’s captain and stated that no decision had been made on him.

“There is, however, no decision taken so far related to Babar Azam,” the top cricket official, who also serves as the country’s interior minister, told reporters in Lahore, as quoted from Geo News.”I’m only speaking to those former cricketers who are interested in the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” he added.

Last week, Geo News also reported that around 30-35 international cricketers will meet the PCB chairman on Monday. They will give their feedback and suggestions to improve the domestic cricket structure in the country.

Pakistan kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a Super Over defeat against the co-hosts, the USA. Pakistan’s arch-rival, India, further increased their woes by getting the better of them in the low-scoring thriller, where they failed to chase down the 120-run target.

Pakistan returned to winning ways by securing victories in their remaining two games against Canada and Ireland. However, their late surge wasn’t enough to seal their tickets for the Super 8 stage in the Caribbean.

As there is a huge gap in Pakistan’s next white-ball series, Pakistan management will have ample time to make the necessary changes for the betterment of their cricket.

After the T20 World Cup heartbreak, Pakistan will play their next white-ball series against Australia in November.

Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie highlighted the importance of fitness in the team ahead of their two-match red-ball series against Bangladesh in August. In the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan crashed out of the group stage and received massive backlash from former Pakistan cricketers and some sections of fans. Fielding and inconsistency were the two aspects of the Pakistan team that were heavily criticised. Apart from that, the fitness level of the players also turned out to be another point of backlash for the players.

Some sections of fans, along with former Pakistan cricketers including Wasim Akram, Kamran Akmal and many more stars, have been critical of the players’ fitness.

Gillespie is looking to improve the fitness level within the team and said, as quoted from Geo News, “In international cricket, you have to remain fit, there are no questions on that. In international cricket, everyone should know about the importance of fitness. It is the main component of a sportsman.”

After Babar Azam was reinstated as the white ball captain in place of Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood is expected to lead the side in the two-match Test series.

Gillespie disclosed that he has had conversations with the Test skipper and will hold talks with the players about the brand of cricket that they want to play.

“I have talked to Shan Masood [Pakistan’s red-ball capain] one or two times, I’m hoping we will play positive cricket. I will [also] discuss with the players about what brand of cricket they want to play, the team will be selected while taking the opposition and conditions in mind,” he said.

“If a player is good for the team, he will definitely be selected. I’m in contact with Gary Kirsten [Pakistan’s white-ball coach] for players’ workload management,” he added.

The former Australian pacer asserted that his focus is on red-ball cricket and he has had conversations with previous coaches as he aims to improve the team.

“My focus is red-ball cricket. I will also travel to Australia and watch their players. I have talked with Jeff Lawson and Shaun Tait [Pakistan’s former bowling coach] on the Pakistan cricket team,” Gillespie said.

Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh will begin on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second Test will be played on August 30 at National Stadium Karachi.

File photo of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam© X (formerly Twitter)

The Pakistan Cricket Board might not be able bring about major changes in the national team in the wake of the side’s dismal performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 as that could lead to a confrontation with senior players, according to sources. PCB’s governing board, scheduled to meet here on Saturday, will take cognizance of white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten and senior team manager Wahab Riaz’s reports submitted to chairman Mohsin Naqvi. But a source said, only cosmetic changes will take place and the “same set of players” would likely continue to play.

Naqvi had been quoted as saying following Pakistan’s defeat to India in the World Cup that a “major surgery” was required in the team.

“The reports by Kirsten and Riaz will help the Governing Board and chairman Naqvi decide the next course of action but all indications are there Naqvi doesn’t want a confrontation with senior players and he has also been advised against massive changes in the team,” a source told PTI.

“There are so many outside voices and pressures from within the system that all this talk about big changes is unlikely to happen. So, basically, with a few changes, the same set of players will be in the Pakistan team for coming games as well in all formats,” he added.

On whether Babar Azam would be retained as white-ball captain following the dismal T20 World Cup showing, another source said that while there is a group, including some former Test captains, which wants to see Shaheen Afridi replace Babar, if there are changes, the prime candidates for captaincy would be Shan Masood and Muhammad Rizwan.

“You could see cosmetic changes, like changes in the selection committee, and the same old story of reorganising domestic cricket to help do damage control. But the senior players remain strong,” he said.

Kirsten’s report is said to contain the same observations he made during his interaction with the players in the dressing room after the match against Ireland in the Group stage.

Kirsten had warned senior pros in the side following the team’s loss to the USA and India to adapt to new skill-sets and improve their game awareness or get left behind. Wahab, on the other hand, outlined personality clashes in the side during the World Cup.

Pakistan next play a two-Test series against Bangladesh followed by three Tests against England. It is unlikely that senior players like Babar and Rizwan would want to take a break from these assignments. 

Pakistan’s group stage exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup has created a meltdown among several former cricketers and experts. But none have been as telling as the revelation from Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten about a lack of unity within the current Pakistan unit. Led by Babar Azam – who regained captaincy from Shaheen Afridi prior to the T20 World Cup – Pakistan crashed out after losses to USA and India. With rumours of groupism within the team, and following Gary Kirsten’s leaked outburst, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has made a witty comment about the situation.

“It worked like ghee on fire,” quipped Aakash Chopra, talking about the fact that anything can get leaked in the Pakistani media, and that it is very difficult to keep secrets after a poor tournament.

“Gary Kirsten has probably said that he didn’t say anything like that but Pakistan cricket is like a strainer. Whatever you put, it leaks from the other end,” Chopra said.

Kirsten – a World Cup-winning coach with Pakistan’s arch-rivals India in 2011 – had reportedly said that the lack of unity within the Pakistan team is something he’d never seen the like of.

“There’s no unity in Pakistan’s team. They call it a team, but it isn’t a team. They aren’t supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I’ve worked with many teams, but I’ve never seen such a situation,” Kirsten had reportedly said, in a leak by Geo News.

Despite Kirsten denying that he had made these statements, the possibility of Kirsten’s complaints being leaked paints a poor image of Pakistan’s media at a time when the cricket team is struggling for support.

“When a private conversation within a dressing room is leaked… it exposes the insecurity within,” tweeted reputed journalist Harsha Bhogle.

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh – a part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team under Kirsten – asked his former coach to come back to the Men In Blue.

“Don’t waste your time there Gary, come back to coach Team INDIA,” Harbhajan posted on X.

When a private conversation within a dressing room is leaked, with a few embellishments I am sure, it exposes the insecurity within. It will be a learning curve for Gary Kirsten but he is a good man and Pakistan will do well to seek the benefits of his knowledge. When he was with…

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 17, 2024

Don’t waste ur time there Gary .. Come back to Coach Team INDIA .. Gary Kirsten One of the rare .. A Great Coach ,Mentor, Honest nd very dear friend to all in the our 2011 Team .. our winning coach of 2011 worldcup . Special man Gary @Gary_Kirsten https://t.co/q2vAZQbWC4

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 17, 2024

India continue their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with their first Super 8 clash against Afghanistan on June 20.

Out-of-favour batter Ahmed Shehzad has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take strict actions against the players who took part in their disastrous T20 World Cup campaign. Pakistan failed to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the tournament after losing to India and tournament debutants the USA. While Pakistan did beat Canada and Ireland in their last two group games, the team’s approach was questioned by fans and experts.

Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten had launched an attack on the team, saying that there is “no unity” in the side and he has “never seen such a situation” in his long coaching career.

“There’s no unity in Pakistan’s team. They call it a team, but it isn’t a team. They aren’t supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I’ve worked with many teams, but I’ve never seen such a situation,” Kirsten said as per reports quoting a senior scribe.

Geosuper.tv 4 quoted sources as saying that Kirsten had expressed his displeasure over the fitness level of the players. The former South Africa opener also said the team is far behind in terms of skill level as compared to the rest of the world.

Reacting to Kirsten’s remarks, Shehzad said that the Pakistan team is plagued with groupism within the team. He also demanded a crackdown from the PCB on the current group of players.

“If Gary Kirsten’s team talk is true, it’s not shocking at all. We have been saying this throughout the World Cup. It’s time for accountability, this team is plagued with grouping and crackdown is the only option. The players involved must be punished and an example should be set for next generation of cricketers. PCB chairman must take notice,” Shehzad wrote in a post on X.

If Gary Kirsten’s team talk is true, it’s not shocking at all. We have been saying this throughout the World Cup. It’s time for accountability, this team is plagued with grouping and crackdown is the only option. The players involved must be punished and an example should be set…

— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) June 17, 2024

Few days back, Shehzad had urged the PCB to get rid of senior players, including captain Babar Azam, star pacer Shaheen Afridi and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan. 

Shehzad suggested that the players have been given enough time to perform and improve, but their hasn’t been any improvement.

If the early T20 World Cup exit was not enough, the Pakistan cricket team has been dealt some bigger blows with a viral remark by its coach Gary Kirsten going viral. According to media reports in Pakistan and by news agency PTI, Kirsten, who guided India to ODI World Cup triumph in 2011, pulled no punches in his assessment of the team after being eliminated from the ongoing T20 showpiece. “There’s no unity in Pakistan’s team. They call it a team, but it isn’t a team. They aren’t supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I’ve worked with many teams, but I’ve never seen such a situation,” Kirsten said as per reports quoting a senior scribe.

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh on Monday suggested Gary Kirsten not to waste his time in Pakistan after the South African claimed that the Babar Azam-led side was plagued by disunity.

Kirsten castigated the Pakistan players for not supporting each other during their disastrous T20 World Cup campaign, saying he has never experienced such toxic atmosphere in a team.

Kirsten took up the assignment as Pakistan’s head coach just before the tournament in the USA and West Indies but was left disappointed as the side made a first round exit after losing to newcomers USA and India.

Harbhajan, in jest, asked Kirsten to take back the coaching role with the Indian team which won the 2011 World Cup under him.

“Don’t waste ur time there Gary .. Come back to Coach Team INDIA .. Gary Kirsten One of the rare .. A Great Coach, Mentor, Honest nd very dear friend to all in the our 2011 Team .. our winning coach of 2011 worldcup . Special man Gary @Gary_Kirsten,” Harbhajan posted on ‘X’.

Don’t waste ur time there Gary .. Come back to Coach Team INDIA .. Gary Kirsten One of the rare .. A Great Coach ,Mentor, Honest nd very dear friend to all in the our 2011 Team .. our winning coach of 2011 worldcup . Special man Gary @Gary_Kirsten https://t.co/q2vAZQbWC4

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 17, 2024

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir is expected to replace Rahul Dravid as India’s next head coach.

Geosuper.tv 4 quoted sources as saying that Kirsten had expressed his displeasure over the fitness level of the players. The former South Africa opener also said the team is far behind in terms of skill level as compared to the rest of the world.

After Pakistan’s defeat to India, Kirsten put the team’s loss down to poor decision-making.

“Disappointing loss, that’s for sure,” Kirsten had said.

With PTI inputs

Gary Kirsten, a former South African star batter and current Pakistan cricket team coach, made headlines on Monday. The reason: an alleged comment by the former India coach on the lack of unity in the team, led by Babar Azam. Kirsten, who won the 2011 World Cup as India coach, was appointed as the Pakistan coach a few weeks ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. However, Pakistan’s performance was not at all good. The 2022 T20 World Cup runners-up were eliminated from the group stage. 

Pakistan began with a loss against debutants USA and then lost to archrivals India too. Though the side win against Canada and Ireland, it was not enough for the side to enter the ‘Super 8’ stage. 

A day after Pakistan’s last group stage match against Ireland on Sunday, the remark by Kirsten went viral. Former Pakistan President Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi, who served as the 13th President of the country, got involved in the development. He was commenting on a post by a senior journalist, which had a viral quote by Gary Kirsten. 

The journalist Ihtisham Ul Haq quoted Gary Kirsten as saying: “There’s no unity in Pakistan’s team, They call it a team, but it isn’t a team. They aren’t supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I’ve worked with many teams, but I’ve never seen such a situation”.

Arif Alvi reposted the statement and wrote the following: 

“For us in Pakistan there is an easy solution to this serious allegation.

“This is an attack on the solidarity & integrity of Pakistan. We have information from credible sources (cipher) that cannot be revealed that he is working under the direct influence of foreign interests against our ideology. The patron of the PCB has ordered immediate action that includes registration of FIRs in all the cricket playing centers of Pakistan and his name is put on the ECL.

“For Gary! Dont worry the above…is just a pun. Do your best to salvage our beleaguered cricket team.” 

For us in Pakistan there is an easy solution to this serious allegation.

br>

This is an attack on the solidarity & integrity of Pakistan. We have information from credible sources (cipher) that cannot be revealed that he is working under the… https://t.co/9dq0is1ufF

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) June 17, 2024

The post has gone viral on social media.