Pakistan’s T20 World Cup disaster continues to generate headlines. After failing to reach the Super 8 stage and reports of internal disunity, the newly appointed coach Gary Kirsten finds himself in the eye of the storm. Now, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has entered the fray, urging Kirsten to ditch Pakistan and return to coach India.
Pakistan’s World Cup hopes were dashed after suffering back-to-back losses against USA and India, with victories against weaker opponents offering little solace. The blame game began after their Super Eights qualification bid crumbled. Reports emerged claiming Kirsten criticized a lack of team spirit within the Pakistani dressing room.
Harbhajan Singh, a member of India’s 2011 World Cup winning team under Gary Kirsten, took to social media. He praised Kirsten as a “rare diamond” and a key figure in India’s 2011 triumph. He urged Kirsten to “not waste time” with Pakistan and instead return to coach India.
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“Don’t waste ur time there Gary, Come back to Coach Team INDIA. Gary Kirsten is One of the rare [Gems]. A Great Coach, Mentor, Honest, and very dear friend to all on our 2011 Team, our winning coach of the 2011 World Cup. Special man Gary,” Harbhajan Singh wrote on X.
Don’t waste ur time there Gary .. Come back to Coach Team INDIA .. Gary Kirsten One of the rare 💎.. A Great Coach ,Mentor, Honest nd very dear friend to all in the our 2011 Team .. our winning coach of 2011 worldcup . Special man Gary ❤️ @Gary_Kirsten https://t.co/q2vAZQbWC4
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 17, 2024
This comes just weeks after Kirsten, the architect of India’s 2011 ODI World Cup win, was brought in to coach Pakistan. The team’s dismal performance, with only two wins in four group matches, fueled speculation about internal conflict. Even former Pakistani President Arif Alvi jokingly threatened legal action against Kirsten for supposedly damaging Pakistan’s team spirit.
Reports suggest Kirsten made these remarks after the Ireland game. He reportedly slammed the Pakistani players for a lack of unity, claiming to have never witnessed such disharmony in any team he’d coached.
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With Pakistan reeling and India searching for a new coach after Ravi Shastri’s departure, Harbhajan’s comments add another layer to the drama. Will Kirsten stay and try to rebuild Pakistan, or will Harbhajan’s call to return to India prove too tempting? Only time will tell.
