Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten reflects on T20 World Cup loss to India

Says he’s still ‘assessing’ the environment and identifying issues within the team

Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten offered his perspective after the Men in Green's defeat to India in a much-anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 match held in New York on Sunday.

Kirsten, who recently took on his role with the team, addressed the media post-match, sharing his observations on the team's performance and the challenges they faced.

"I've only been here for a few days, so I'm still assessing the environment and identifying the issues. I've watched these players for many years on TV, getting to know them, and they're fantastic guys. They're playing for their country, and there's a lot of disappointment in the change room now," Kirsten said.

The former cricketer highlighted the crucial need for continuous growth and adaptation in international cricket.

Read more: Heartbreak in Pakistan after T20 World Cup loss to India

"For me, the most important thing for every international player is to keep growing and developing and to understand the demands of international cricket. The game changes every year, so if you're not improving, you'll get found out at some point," he explained.

Kirsten also commented on the New York pitch, which has been widely criticised 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 high-scoring game," he noted.

"I would say 140 would've been a very good total here. So India did not reach that, and we had a chance. We knew it was going to be a tight match. Sometimes it's enjoyable to see games like that. It's not always about huge scores," he concluded.

With the loss to India, Pakistan will now aim for its first points when it faces Canada on Tuesday in New York. Group A’s next match is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, between Pakistan and Canada in New York.