Former India off-spinner and World Cup champion, Harbhajan Singh, urged Gary Kirsten to resign from his role as head coach of the Pakistan men's cricket team. Harbhajan made a strong statement, advising Kirsten not to "waste time" with Pakistan cricket and expressing his hope to see Kirsten return to coach the senior national team in India.
Harbhajan Singh's remarks followed reports in the Pakistani media that Gary Kirsten criticized the Pakistan team for a 'lack of unity'. Kirsten reportedly described the challenges of working within a team plagued by divisions and multiple factions.
Harbhajan wants Kirsten to coach Team India
"Don’t waste ur time there Gary.. Come back to Coach Team INDIA. Gary Kirsten One of the rare gems/ A great coach, mentor, friend to all in the 1202 team. Our winning coach of the 2011 World Cup. Special Man Gary @Gary_Kisten," Harbhajan Singh said in a post on X.
The Pakistan cricket team's journey in the T20 World Cup 2024 ended abruptly as they were eliminated during the group stage. This marked the first time Gary Kirsten, the former South African opening batsman, was working with captain Babar Azam and the Pakistani team. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had appointed Kirsten as their coach just before the T20 World Cup. Notably, Gary Kirsten's coaching experience extends beyond Pakistan. He previously coached India during their triumphant 2011 World Cup run. From 2008 to 2011, he guided the Indian team led by MS Dhoni. Kirsten was part of that historic night in Mumbai when India, under Dhoni's leadership, clinched the coveted trophy, finally ending their 28-year wait for World Cup glory.
Pakistan's cricket team seems to be facing issues beyond just their performance. A report from Geo Super News in Pakistan suggests that head coach Gary Kirsten was deeply concerned about the team's lack of unity. The report gains further weight with a quote from a well-known Pakistani sports journalist who claims to have the specific words Kirsten used to voice his disappointment with the Babar Azam-led Pakistan team.
"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.
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