The Pakistan cricket team had a disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024, crashing out in the group stages under the leadership of Babar Azam. Losses to the United States and India led to their early exit from the tournament, despite a consolation victory over Ireland in their final group match.
Head coach Gary Kirsten delivered a harsh critique of the team's performance, highlighting a lack of unity and cooperation among the players. Kirsten, who previously led India to an ODI World Cup triumph in 2011, expressed his dismay at the internal discord within the Pakistan squad. He noted that in his extensive coaching career, he had never encountered such a fractured team environment.
"There's no unity in Pakistan's team. They call it a team, but it isn't a team. They aren't supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I've worked with many teams, but I've never seen such a situation," Kirsten stated, as reported by a senior journalist.
In addition to the lack of unity, Kirsten also criticised the players' fitness and skill levels, pointing out that they lagged behind other international teams. Following Pakistan's loss to India, Kirsten attributed the defeat to poor decision-making. He remarked that failing to chase a modest target of 120, despite being well-placed at 72 for 2 with six or seven overs left, was particularly disappointing.
Despite the criticism and the early exit, Pakistan managed to secure a win against Ireland by three wickets at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. This victory ensured that Pakistan finished third in Group A with two wins from four games.
The scathing remarks from Kirsten underscore the challenges facing the Pakistan cricket team, including internal disunity and inadequate preparation, as they look to rebuild and improve for future competitions.