India's World Cup-Winning Coach Gary Kirsten Can't Do Wonders For Pakistan...: EX-PAK Star's Clear Cut-Verdict|Exclusive
india's world cup-winning coach gary kirsten can't do wonders for pakistan...: ex-pak star's clear cut-verdict|exclusive
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 ended on Friday after the USA entered the Super 8's stage in their first-ever appearance. The Pakistan team under the leadership of Babar Azam got two points from three matches and was expecting Ireland's victory over the USA in their previous Group A match. But then, fate had different plans for them as the game between the USA and Ireland got washed out due to heavy rain in Florida.
To dissect and know the reason behind Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, SportsNow spoke to former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria. The former wrist spinner bluntly spoke about Pakistan cricket’s stakeholders, players, and other officials.
“It’s a shameful thing in the history of Pakistan cricket. You know it already; apart from cricket, these people have doomed every other sport. If you play with players’ careers, then you have to face the repercussions”, Kaneria said.
“There are tons of players who have been making headlines with their performances but are not getting a chance to play for the national team. Players like Ahmed Jamal, and Shahnawaz Dahani who performed well are not getting opportunities. Muhammad Hasnain who was bowling well has been disappeared by these people. Batters like Kamran Ghulam, and Sahibzada Farhan have been constantly scoring loads of runs in the domestic circuit, where are these guys?”, he added.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board roped in Gary Kirsten as coach of the men’s senior team. Kirsten, who had coached India to the 2011 World Cup, was appointed as the white-ball (T20I and ODI) head coach. Speaking about the same, Kaneria said, “Sometimes ago, you decided to bring in a new coach, Gary Kirsten who helped India win the World Cup and cannot do wonders in just a few months. He is not a magician. In Pakistan cricket, politics is everything. Gary will need a lot of time to understand the politics and accordingly, he will start working.“
“You are going to play the World Cup despite knowing the fact that it’s in the USA, we have never played cricket here, and it requires a lot of time to get used to the conditions. Knowing all of that, Pakistan cricket went on to play England and Ireland where conditions are different in comparison to the USA. Still, you have the guts to refuse to play in warm-up games in the United States. Then you select the useless team and repeatedly depend on Babar-Rizwan, Babar-Rizwan, what is this? Till when we will tolerate these names. ( Ye bus naam ke King Reh Chuke hain ab). Whenever any major tournaments come, they fail to create that impact. They only score runs against teams like Zimbabwe, and Ireland, and then they start comparing Babar Azam with Virat Kohli”, the former Pakistan spinner told SportsNow.
Danish Kaneria also believes that Pakistan committed a blunder when they switched the captains again. According to him, Pakistan speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi should have done the captaincy instead of Babar Azam.
“When they appointed Shaheen Shah Afridi as skipper, why was he removed? Why did Babar decide to take the captaincy again? This is pathetic. Rather Babar should have supported Shaheen as skipper of Pakistan. Ever since Mohammad Amir came in, Shaheen has been treated as a secondary bowler. Shaheen is one such guy who has been a main bowler for you for the last 3 years. He has taken wickets, he has won matches for you single-handedly. In super overs, they do not count on Shaheen Shah Afridi. In batting also, you are sending, Fakhar and Iftikhar. Why did they not send Babar and Rizwan in the super over? Are they so scared?”, he said.
“What is Shadab’s role in a team? Is he playing as a bowling all-rounder or just as a pure batter? Clearly, he is not able to bowl. You are just playing Shadab as he is your best friend”, he added.
Danish Kaneria did not mince his words when it came to Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Azam Khan. The latter has been constantly being trolled on social media due to his bulky physique.
“What is Azam Khan’s role in the team? On the basis of what he was picked in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. You are carrying three wicketkeepers in the squad with the likes of Azam, Rizwan, and Usman Khan. What is the need? (Inhone Mohalle ki team bana ke rakh di hain). Literally, the stakeholders of Pakistan Cricket are responsible for such activities. Everybody is making fun of Pakistan cricket”, Kaneria stated.