Urgent Need for Pakistan to Evolve as T20 Cricket Rapidly Advances, Warns Coach Kirsten
Kirsten Emphasizes the Importance of Adaptation
Following Pakistan’s back-to-back losses in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, coach Gary Kirsten issued a stark warning to his players, emphasizing the need to adapt to the rapidly changing demands of the modern game.
Pakistan’s defeat against India in New York on Sunday, coupled with their shock Super Over loss to USA in Dallas last week, has already jeopardized their chances of advancing to the Super 8s stage. Kirsten, who took over as Pakistan’s white-ball coach just a week before the tournament, acknowledged the mounting pressure on the team.
“These guys are all international players and they’re aware that when they’re not performing at their best, there’s going to be pressure put on them,” Kirsten said. “A lot of these guys have played a lot of T20 cricket around the world over many, many years and it’s really up to them to decide how they’re going to take their games forward.”
Scrutiny on Babar Azam and Rizwan’s Approach
The scrutiny will undoubtedly fall on captain Babar Azam and his opening partner Mohammad Rizwan, whose conservative approach has divided opinion. Veteran players like Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf have also been part of Pakistan’s previous T20 World Cup campaigns, but the team’s performance has failed to improve.
Kirsten emphasized the need for constant evolution, as the game of cricket continues to rapidly evolve.
“The game is changing pretty much every year. So, if you’re not up to it and you’re not improving, you’re going to get found out somewhere.”
Calls for Drastic Changes
Former captain Wasim Akram went even further, calling for a clear-out of the current team, stating that “Enough is enough. We need changes now.” Another ex-skipper, Shahid Afridi, also suggested making changes to the lineup, including the inclusion of Salman Ali Agha and Abrar Ahmed.
With Pakistan’s tournament hopes hanging in the balance, Kirsten and the team management face tough decisions ahead. The message is clear: Pakistan’s cricketers must adapt and evolve to keep pace with the rapidly changing demands of T20 cricket, or risk being left behind.
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