'There's no unity in team': Gary Kirsten exposes Babar Azam's Pakistan after T20 WC exit

The Pakistan men's cricket team suffered a shock exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 following losses against the United States and India in the group stage of the competition. Pakistan failed to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the World Cup and will now have to play the qualifiers to book a spot for the next edition. Pakistan were the runners-up in the previous T20 World Cup in 2022.

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Gary Kirsten exposes Babar Azam's Pakistan team

Pakistan's newly-appointed head coach Gary Kirsten has revealed some shocking behind-the-scenes details after the team's early departure from the T20 World Cup 2024. Kirsten disclosed that there is no unity in the Pakistan dressing room, adding that he has worked with many teams but has never seen a team like Pakistan. Kirsten, who was the head coach of the Indian team that won the 2011 ODI World Cup, said that everyone is separated and the 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," a Pakistani journalist named Ihtisham Ul Haq said on Twitter. 

Various reports in the Pakistani media have echoed these sentiments. One report indicated that Gary Kirsten believes the players' fitness levels are not up to standard, suggesting a massive overhaul is imminent. Another report quoted Kirsten stating that the skill level of the Pakistan team lags significantly behind the rest of the world.

Recent reports indicate internal divisions within the Pakistan cricket team, with Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi allegedly leading separate factions. Tensions between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have surfaced, reportedly due to Babar's reinstatement as captain after a brief period during which Shaheen replaced him following Pakistan's disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup 2023. 

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Shaheen Shah Afridi is said to be upset with Babar Azam for not supporting him when the PCB stripped him of the captaincy, despite Shaheen having backed Babar in a similar situation after the ODI World Cup in India last year. Additionally, there are personal issues between Babar Azam and players Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir, further complicating team dynamics.