The comments reported by Gary Kirsten on the disunity within the Pakistani team are not at all shocking: Ahmed Shehzad – Sport

Cricketer-turned-analyst Ahmed Shehzad has said that Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten’s alleged remarks on disunity within the team following the team’s humiliating exit from the World Cup world 2024 were “not at all shocking”.

According to a Geo Super According to a report based on sources, Kirsten reprimanded the team for their poor performance in the tournament where Pakistan, the 2009 champions and runners-up in 2007 and 2022, made a quick exit after losing their first two matches as he was in a position to win.

A stunning humiliation by the United States was followed by a six-point loss to bitter rivals India in a match where they failed to reach a paltry target of 120 points.

Subsequently, after rain handed out equal points in the match between Ireland and the United States, Pakistan were indirectly knocked out of the group stages of a T20 World Cup tournament for the first time of its history.

Kirsten reportedly gave his blunt assessment of the team’s unity during a meeting with the team and said the players were split left and right, adding that he hadn’t seen such a situation well that he has worked with several teams.

Commenting on Kirsten’s alleged remarks, Shehzad, an outspoken critic of the cricket committee and the current management of the team, said: “We have been saying this throughout the World Cup. It’s time for accountability, this team is in the grip of regrouping and repression is the only option.”

“The players involved must be punished and an example must be set for (the) next generation of cricketers. The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) president must take note of this,” he added.

Leading commentator Harsha Bhogle also gave his views on the development, saying that “when a private conversation in a dressing room is leaked, with some embellishments…it reveals the insecurity within “.

“It will be a learning curve for Gary Kirsten but he is a good man and Pakistan would do well to learn from his knowledge,” he said in an article on X.

“When he was with India, he was surrounded by tough people but also players with impeccable character,” he said.

“It created a fabulous combo,” he added.

Meanwhile, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh invited Kirsten to “come back to coach” the Indian team, which he led to victory in the 2011 World Cup at home.

In his article on X yesterday, Singh said that Kirsten was one of the rare gems of cricket.

“A great coach, mentor, honest and very dear friend to all members of our 2011 team. Our 2011 World Cup winning coach. A special man, Gary. » said Singh.

Current Indian head coach Rahul Dravid is set to step down at the end of the month once his contract expires, with Gautam Gambhir in pole position to take over.