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Dav Whatmore, the former head coach of Pakistan, has weighed in on the challenges faced by Gary Kirsten, the current head coach for white-ball cricket, and Jason Gillespie, the head coach for red-ball cricket, amidst the recent struggles of the Pakistan Cricket Team at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Whatmore, drawing from his own experiences navigating the complexities of Pakistani cricket, expressed empathy for Kirsten and Gillespie, emphasizing the formidable obstacles that lie ahead for them.
Dav Whatmore offers scathing advice to Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie amid their challenging roles as Pakistan coaches.
According to Dav Whatmore, offering counsel to Jason Gillespie, the key lies in maintaining composure amidst the whirlwind of expectations and pressure. Despite acknowledging the demanding environment, Whatmore expressed confidence in Gillespie’s ability to successfully navigate his tenure with the Pakistan cricket team, contrasting it with the fate of several predecessors who couldn’t complete their terms due to the team’s underperformance in major tournaments.
Speaking to PakPassion, Whatmore shared, “I don’t know about Kirsten, but I spoke to Jason when I was in Australia. And I just gave him what I thought and felt when I was there for my two years. And to just, you know, to really be calm and collected and just do your work as best you can.
It’ll be a learning curve for him; there’s no question. And I think he’ll do well, to be honest. I think he’s got the temperament as a foreigner to come over and fulfill his duty whenever it is, whatever, a year or two years.”
Regarding Gary Kirsten’s predicament, Whatmore noted the heightened intensity and challenges following Pakistan’s unexpected exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 after losses to the USA and India. He acknowledged the pressure on Kirsten, suggesting that the former South African captain’s tenure is under scrutiny and far from secure.
Whatmore recognized the daunting challenge ahead for Kirsten, acknowledging that such disappointments often trigger significant upheavals within the Pakistan team and its management structure. He suggested that the team’s lackluster showings in recent events, including the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, could prompt further adjustments in player selection and other operational aspects to address the situation.
Speaking about the tough job Kirsten has, Whatmore noted: “Obviously, with the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan lost to the USA and did not qualify for the second stage of the tournament. So, it’s going to be a steep learning curve for Gary as well, isn’t it? I guess there’s, you know, when you have a result like that, no one’s happy with it.
If you’ve got anything to do with Pakistan cricket, I guess from there, there’s only one way to go, isn’t there? And that’s out. So, in some ways, you’ve got to weather the storm. His job won’t be that easy, I can tell you.”
Ultimately, the former coach pointed out that the reshuffling of the selection committee was a direct repercussion of the disappointing results at the T20 World Cup 2024. He concluded by suggesting that only time will reveal whether there will be additional repercussions stemming from these performances. However, he underscored the considerable challenge facing Kirsten in his current role.
