Head Coach Gary Kirsten reflects on Pakistan's loss to India in T20 World Cup 2024

Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten shared his thoughts after the Men in Green suffered a defeat to India in a highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 match in New York on Sunday.

Kirsten, who recently joined the team, addressed the media following the match, offering insights into the team's performance and challenges.

"I've only been here for a handful of days so I'm looking into the environment and what the issues are. I look at these players. I've watched them play for many years on TV, getting to know them, and they're fantastic guys. They're playing for their country, and there are a lot of very disappointed guys in the change room now,” Kirsten said.

The former cricketer emphasized the importance of continuous growth and adaptation in international cricket.

“For me, the most important thing for every international player is that you keep growing and developing and understand the demands of international cricket. The game is changing every year, so if you're not improving, you're going to get found out some way," he said.

The head coach also discussed the nature of the pitch in New York, which has faced heavy criticism since the tournament began.

"Generally, the pitch kept lower. It was difficult to score for both batting sides. The outfield was quite slow as well, so it was never going to be a big total," he said.

"I would say 140 would've been a very good total here. So India did not get that, and we had the game. We knew it was going to be a tight one. Sometimes it is fun seeing games like that. It's not always about huge scores," he concluded.

After defeat against India on Sunday, Pakistan, on the other hand, will aim for its first points when it faces Canada on Tuesday in New York. Group A’s next match is set for Tuesday, June 11, between Pakistan and Canada in New York.