Gary Kirsten has denied making any controversial statements about the Pakistan team after their disastrous campaign in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The Men in Green bowed out of the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup at the group stage after losing two of their four matches. Their chances of qualifying for the Super 8 seemed all but over after losing their first two games. The team led by Babar Azam began their campaign with a surprising defeat against the United States.
In their next game, the 2009 T20 World Cup winners suffered a 6-run defeat against bitter rivals India while chasing a modest total of 120. They bounced back by winning the games against Canada and Ireland, but it was too late to achieve it. Another great escape.
A day after Pakistan’s campaign ended, Pakistani news outlet Geo News claimed that the former India coach questioned the team’s unity. The former South Africa batsman also reportedly said that Pakistan players do not support each other.
“There is no unity in the Pakistan team. They call it a team, but it is not a team. They do not support each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I have worked with many teams, but I have never seen a situation like this” Gary Kirsten reportedly said.
Shocking statement from Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten
“There is no unity in the Pakistan team. They call it a team, but it’s not a team. They do not support each other; They are all separated, left and right. “I have worked with many teams, but I have never seen a situation like this.”
-Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) June 17, 2024
I do not make public statements: Gary Kirsten
Gary Kirsten has denied making any public comments about Pakistan team unity. On Monday (June 17), another Pakistani journalist posted a screenshot of his exchange with Gary Kirsten in which the latter denied giving the statement.
“Of course not! I’m not on social media and I don’t make public statements unless it’s at a press conference,” Gary Kirsten responded when the journalist asked him about the statement.
However, the drama did not end there. Soon after the screenshot was posted on social media, another Geo News journalist clarified the matter by stating that Kirsten did not criticize the Pakistan team in public but in the locker room. She also hinted that all is not well within the Pakistan dressing room at the moment.
“This wasn’t his ‘statement,’ it was his post-match chat with the players in the locker room. Of course, when locker room conversations become the talk of the town, it confirms that all is not well,” he wrote the journalist in X.
This was not his “statement”, it was his post-match talk with the players in the locker room.
Of course, when locker room conversations become the talk of the town, it is confirmed that all is not well.– Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) June 17, 2024
