Gary Kirsten controversy takes new turn; Pakistan coach denies making 'no unity' statement, but there's more

Gary Kirsten has denied making any controversial statement on the Pakistan team after their disastrous campaign in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.

The Men in Green bowed out of the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup at the group stage after losing two of their four games. Their chances of qualifying for the Super 8s looked all but over after they lost their first two games. The Babar Azam-led side began their campaign with a shock loss against the USA. 

In their next game, the 2009 T20 World Cup winners suffered a 6-run loss against bitter rivals India while chasing a modest total of 120. They bounced back by winning the games against Canada and Ireland but it was too late for them to pull off another great escape.

A day after Pakistan's campaign ended, Pakistani news outlet Geo News claimed that the former India head coach questioned the unity in the team. As per the reports, the former South Africa batter also said that the Pakistan players are not supporting each other.

"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," said Gary Kirsten as per the reports.

Pakistan’s coach Gary Kirsten shocking statement,

“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”.

— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) June 17, 2024

I don't make public statements: Gary Kirsten

Gary Kirsten has denied making any comment in public about the unity of the Pakistan team. On Monday (June 17), another Pakistani journalist posted a screenshot of his exchange with Gary Kirsten in which the latter denied giving the statement.

"Absolutely not! I'm not on social media and I don't make public statements unless at a press conference," replied Gary Kirsten when the journalist asked him about the statement.

However, the drama did not end there. Soon after the screenshot was posted on social media, another journalist from Geo News clarified the matter by stating that Kirsten did not criticize the Pakistan team in public but in the dressing room. He also hinted that not all is well inside the Pakistan dressing room at the moment.

"This wasn't his "statement", this was his post-match talk to the players in the dressing room. Of course, when dressing room talks become talk of the town, it confirms that all isn't well," wrote the journalist on X.

This wasn't his "statement", this was his post-match talk to the players in the dressing room.
Of course, when dressing room talks become talk of the town, it confirms that all isn't well. https://t.co/W5twgjF7EZ

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) June 17, 2024