Inspired by Woolmer, ‘tough-skinned’ Kirsten is ready to face the challenge of Pakistan

“Everyone always talks about watching some of these players play on any given day and being blown away by their skills,” he said, speaking to former England cricketer Steve Harmison and broadcaster Neil Manthorp. “But the little time I’ve had with the team, one can quickly find out what the barriers might be. And I think it’s my role as a coach to help unlock the natural ability they have.”

Kirsten, who has been at the helm during Pakistan cricket’s transition on and off the field, said it was natural to expect disagreements in Pakistani cricket, suggesting that the negative effects of poor results on the field permeated all aspects of cricket. cricket.

Following a poor ODI World Cup, Pakistan lost 3-0 in Tests against Australia and lost 4-1 in T20Is to New Zealand. Pakistan then drew 2-2 before going past Ireland 2-1.

“He had a really tough skin at the end of his coaching career. Because you try to do your best, to accept that if the team doesn’t do well, there are always plenty of players to criticize.”

“My children are grown up now, which makes it easier to travel, and working with an international team like Pakistan was very interesting for me.”

Kirsten’s time with India should, in theory at least, prepare her for the managerial challenges of working with a cricket board in South Asia, and the wisdom of accepting there will be inevitable limits to her abilities. “I think what I’ve learned in my three years in India is that there are battles you’re never going to win. Then you focus on the ones you can win, and hopefully that’s enough for the team to do really well. .

“It’s very important that you build relationships at the top. You need to work well with the people at the top and within the board, and hopefully build good relationships so that they buy into your thinking.”

Kirsten to Babar: ‘It’s not right to depend on one player’

“That’s right [dependence on Babar] it’s not fair to any player,” Kirsten said. “He shouldn’t feel like he has to contribute all the time to the team. I have been in touch with Babar. He has done amazingly well and is carrying the weight of the team on his shoulders. What we will try to do as a coaching staff is to raise that a little bit and see that he is one of the whole group of players and that he can free himself to play with his natural talent.

“I hope we see more of that [the Ireland innings] kind of knock on him. I think if we can open up that freedom, and understand that there is a great group of guys who can contribute to winning the game, especially in T20 cricket, that will take a lot of pressure off him.”

“I got a call while I was in the IPL, they asked me if I was interested. I’ve always liked international work. It’s always a great honor to be a coach in that position. I haven’t done any international work since I coached South Africa in late 2013. My kids are grown now, which makes it easier to travel. , and working with an international team like Pakistan was very interesting to me.”

Test cricket ‘worries me a lot’

During Kirsten’s two-year contract, Pakistan will participate in three ICC white-ball tournaments: the upcoming T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, and the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka . However, while admitting she is determined – via PCB’s video – to win one of the three events, Kirsten said she disagrees with ICC tournaments coming thick and fast.

“Sometimes I worry about the absence of a game in many games. But does it mean that we have to have an ICC event every year? No, I think it would be dangerous to have the World Cup every year or other years because it is always fun. waiting for those events to come.

“And we have to be careful not to lose Test cricket. To have Test-playing countries like South Africa playing four Tests a year worries me a lot – to think that Test cricket is no longer that important.”