Gary Kirsten points to ‘interference’ in PCB for early Pakistan exit

WEB DEKS: Former Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten has lifted the lid on his short stint with the national side, saying persistent “outside interference” — during a period overseen by the Mohsin Naqvi-led board — played a key role in his early exit in 2024.

Kirsten, who took charge with a strong pedigree that included guiding India to the 2011 World Cup title, lasted only a few months with Pakistan before stepping away after a run of inconsistent results.

Speaking to talkSPORT Cricket, Kirsten said the scale of interference was unlike anything he had experienced before. “The level of interference… I don’t think I’ve ever seen it at that level. It was significant,” he said, adding that “constant noise from the outside” made it difficult to build a clear working structure with players.

For Kirsten, the issue wasn’t just results, but the environment. “It’s tough to formulate a way of working when there’s constant noise and punitive reactions to poor performances,” he said, pointing to a culture where decision-making extended beyond the dressing room.

He also suggested that coaches often become easy scapegoats. “You’re the lowest hanging fruit when the team isn’t doing well… then why recruit the coach?” he said, calling such an approach counterproductive.

Despite the challenges, Kirsten struck a positive note on the players, saying he “thoroughly enjoyed” working with the squad. “Cricketers are the same everywhere… even with a language barrier, you understand each other when you talk cricket,” he said.

Kirsten’s remarks add to ongoing scrutiny around governance and decision-making within Pakistan cricket, particularly during a period of frequent changes at the top and instability behind the scenes.