LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has responded cautiously to recent remarks made by former white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, who attributed his early resignation to persistent external interference within the team setup.
Kirsten, who took charge in April 2024 alongside Test coach Jason Gillespie, stepped down after just six months—well short of his two-year agreement. His departure followed closely on the heels of squad announcements for Pakistan’s ODI and T20I tours of Australia and Zimbabwe, selections he reportedly had little to no input in.
In a candid interview, the former South African international did not hold back in describing the challenges he faced during his brief tenure. He expressed concern over what he perceived as an overwhelming level of outside involvement in cricketing matters.
Kirsten remarked that the degree of interference he encountered was unlike anything he had experienced before in his coaching career. He suggested that such an environment makes it extremely difficult for a coach to establish a clear strategy or build cohesive working relationships with players, as constant external pressures disrupt the process.
He also highlighted a recurring issue in professional cricket—coaches often bearing the brunt of poor results. According to Kirsten, team management tends to view coaching staff as expendable, raising questions about the long-term vision behind such appointments.
Addressing the controversy during a media briefing at Gaddafi Stadium, Mohsin Naqvi refrained from engaging directly with the allegations. Instead, he emphasized that his interactions with Kirsten were limited and suggested that individuals more closely involved in day-to-day coordination with the coach were better positioned to respond.
Naqvi’s measured reaction indicates a desire to avoid escalating the situation, even as questions continue to surface about the internal dynamics of Pakistan cricket and the circumstances surrounding Kirsten’s abrupt exit.
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