Gary Kirsten lashes attack on Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB for creating toxic work culture

Gary Kirsten shared the horrific experiences he gathered while working as the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team. The former South Africa cricketer and India's 2011 World Cup-winning coach launched a severe attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

During a recent interaction with talkSPORT Cricket, Kirsten explained that the work culture around the team forced him to resign from the position. The veteran coach claimed that he was surprised to see the ‘level of interference’.

Gary Kirsten left Pakistan cricket only after 6 months as their head coach

Kirsten was appointed as the white-ball coach of the Pakistan cricket team in April 2024. He was contracted for a 2-year stint, but was terminated only after a 6-month stint. There were multiple reports that indicated Gary Kirsten left the job because of a toxic work culture around the team.

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During the latest conversation, the coach said that he was surprised to witness the amount of interference in the team, which he had never seen before.

Why did the World Cup-winning coach leave the job so quickly?

“The thing that surprised me probably more than anything was the level of interference. I don't think I have ever seen it at that level before. Did it surprise me? I don't know, but it was significant,” Kirsten said while speaking to talkSPORT Cricket.

He was annoyed by the constant noise coming from the outside, which barred him from applying his coaching formulas to shape the team. Along with the constant noises, Gary Kirsten was bothered to see the vindictive actions taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board around poor performance.

"It is quite difficult for a coach to come in and formulate a way to work with the players when there is just this constant noise from the outside. It was tough, just this constant noise from the outside, and a lot of punitive actions around poor performance and stuff like that,” the experienced coach further mentioned.

"As a coach, you are the lowest-hanging fruit when the team isn't going well, so 'let us get rid of the coach or let us put a restriction on the coach,' because that is the easiest thing to do when the team isn't performing - and that is counterproductive in my view. Then why recruit the coach?" Kirsten added.

Gary Kirsten has opened up on his stint as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, expressing concern over the level of external interference.

“The thing that surprised me was the level of interference.”

~ Gary Kirsten pic.twitter.com/zHCu0ZNDeu

— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) March 21, 2026

After the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2026, the South African was appointed as the head coach of the Sri Lanka cricket team on a two-year contract starting April 15. He will remain in the role until April 14, 2028. Under his guidance, the Sri Lankan cricket team will play the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Sri Lanka Cricket appointed Gary Kirsten as their new head coach

“Kirsten's primary responsibilities will include guiding the Sri Lanka national men's team in its preparation and campaign for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027”, Sri Lanka Cricket informed through an official press release.

During the showcase tournament, Kirsten was associated with Cricket Namibia as a consultant during the recently concluded T20 World Cup.

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