LAHORE: Pakistan’s Head Coach, Gary Kirsten, voiced disappointment following Pakistan’s defeat against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match. Despite the setback, Kirsten said that the national team’s hopes of qualifying for the Super 8 stage remain alive.
Speaking at the post-match press conference held at the Nassau cricket stadium, Kirsten lamented Pakistan’s inability to capitalize on their advantageous position of 72-2 with 6-7 overs remaining, eventually falling short by 6 runs, ending at 113-7 in 20 overs. He said that they missed the opportunity despite being in a strong position.
Responding to the reasons behind Pakistan’s loss, Kirsten attributed it to poor decision-making by both the batsmen and the bowlers.
He acknowledged Mohammad Rizwan’s commendable performance but criticized the middle-order collapse despite having a comfortable run rate. With two defeats from two matches, Kirsten emphasized the need for improved performance in the upcoming matches against Ireland and Canada to keep Pakistan’s tournament hopes alive.
Disagreeing with the notion of the Nassau cricket stadium pitch being dangerous, Kirsten acknowledged the challenges posed by the surface but considered it a fair contest for both teams. He praised Babar Azam’s captaincy and the bowlers’ efforts but urged the batsmen to take responsibility for their performance.
Assessing the team dynamics, Kirsten emphasized the importance of player development and adaptation to the evolving demands of international cricket. He highlighted the need for better execution from both bowlers and batsmen to achieve success in future matches.
Regarding strategic decisions during the match, Kirsten explained the rationale behind promoting Imad Wasim up the batting order to counter India’s spin bowlers with a left-right batting combination.
