IND vs PAK: 'We don't need extra motivation, but courage...' - Gary Kirsten gives strict message to Pakistani batters

The big stage is set for the blockbuster showdown between India and Pakistan at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday, June 9, in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team is entering the high stacks on the back of their dominating win over Ireland in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener in New York.

On the other hand, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team faces pressure as they are coming into the high-octane clash with Team India after their embarrassing loss to the co-hosts, the USA in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener in Texas.

Gary Kirsten confident of Pakistan's chance against India in the T20 World Cup 2024 clash

Historically, India has dominated Pakistan in T20 World Cup encounters, winning six out of their seven matches. Pakistan's sole victory against the Men in Blue came in the 2021 T20 World Cup, with the Men in Green crushing the Virat Kohli-led Indian team by 10 wickets in Dubai.

Well, ahead of the IND vs PAK match in New York, Pakistan cricket team head coach Gary Kirsten said that he doesn’t like to harp on history too much, as he sounded confident about the Men in Green’s chances against India—the side with whom he won the 2011 ODI World Cup.

Kirsten insisted that Pakistani players have “moved forward” from their embarrassing loss to the USA in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 and are now focused on the big game against the Men in Blue on Sunday. The coach also stressed that the Pakistan team is very motivated to outclass India in New York.

The South African legend admitted that the pitch at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium will be difficult to bat on, but the bowlers from both teams will have an extra advantage, so he advised his batters to play with courage and assess the conditions well in the high-pressure match against India.

Gary Kirsten urges Pakistani batters to play with courage against India

Gary Kirsten said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the IND vs PAK match: “The batters are going to have to play with courage, assess the conditions, assess what a good score could be on this wicket [if we bat first] and then make sure we get a competitive total.”

The Pakistan coach added, “I don't like to harp on history too much. We need to make sure we play the best cricket that we can. So, we're going to go out there and make sure we do the best that we can with our skill sets, and how we can put pressure on the opposition. So, it's really up to us to get ourselves up for the game.

It's a big game, India-Pakistan. There's no need for me to motivate the team any more, they're well motivated, they're focused for this game. We've to forget about the last couple of days and just move forward. That's the only way you can deal with life.”

India already played in New York, so they will have an advantage about the condition, but Kirsten wasn’t sure about the same, saying he can't predict what's going to happen, and he doesn't know whether it'll be an advantage.