'If we can win one of those three ICC events...': Gary Kirsten after taking Pakistan's white-ball coach's job

‘If we can win one of those three ICC events…’: Gary Kirsten after taking Pakistan’s white-ball coach’s job

NEW DELHI: Newly-appointed white-ball coach for the Pakistan men’s team Gary Kirsten has expressed his thoughts on the upcoming challenges and his goals for the team.

The former South African batter, who led India to victory in the 2011 Men’s ODI World Cup, will be coaching Pakistan for a period of two years, with his first assignment being a four-match T20I tour of England followed by the Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.

“50-over cricket will be as important as T20 cricket. I think the important thing for me is to understand where the team is at and where we want to go to – whether that is winning World Cup events, which, by the way, is not easy. Often some people think you just pitch in and you’re going to win the championship,” said Kirsten.

“But, if you can win one of those three ICC events, that will be an amazing achievement on its own, whether it’s the upcoming event or it’s two years from now. My job is to make sure that the team operates at its best, it’s as simple as that. And if the team is operating at its best, we will always have a good chance of winning a trophy,” the 2011 World Cup-winning coach added.

Pakistan’s last silverware in ICC events came through the 2017 Champions Trophy triumph in England. Following the T20 World Cup, Pakistan is slated to play two more white-ball events – the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup. Kirsten aims to understand the team’s current position and identify the steps needed to compete at the highest level.

Kirsten, currently serving as the batting coach-cum-mentor for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024, highlighted the importance of establishing a good team environment, consistency, and continuity as his initial targets. He stated, “I don’t have the silver bullet to success, my role is to try and enable the players to play at the absolute maximum of their talents.”

Lastly, Kirsten urged fans to remain patient and supportive of the team’s performances. He emphasized the importance of the players not seeing the massive support base as a burden of expectation but rather as a journey that they walk hand-in-hand with the Pakistani people.

(Inputs from IANS)

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