Off-field fiascos

On the field, things have not looked this good for Pakistan cricket in a few years. After a test series victory over England in October, the boys in green won an ODI series against Australia on the latter’s home turf for the first time in over two decades. These triumphs were followed by ODI and T20 series victories in Zimbabwe. Right now, the team is on a tour of South Africa and could well continue its fine form. Rarely do the country’s cricket teams play this well abroad and Pakistanis deserve and should be able to enjoy this moment without any reservations, given the abysmal performances that have preceded it. However, while fans might well be happy for now, there is an air of trepidation about what comes next. This is largely due to matters off the field. After almost a decade in cricketing isolation, Pakistan is finally set to host a major international tournament: the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. But India’s continuing refusal to play in Pakistan means that the format of the tournament is in limbo and the country is having to endure the sort of humiliation that no host ever should. Now, head coach Jason Gillespie stepped down as the national red-ball trainer just days before the Test series against South Africa. This follows the resignation of former white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten, who resigned before the Australia series.

Losing two head coaches back-to-back before a major tournament is a major blow, particularly given the way Pakistan is being treated as the tournament’s host. With India refusing to play in the country, one would have liked to have seen some solidarity within the nation’s cricketing apparatus given the external pressure and disrespect. This would have also gone a long way since Gillespie and Kirsten are prominent figures in the cricket world in general, their support would have had a legitimising effect. The reasons for their departure reportedly include an unwillingness to reside or spend more time in Pakistan outside of series commitments. In Gilispie’s case, the conflict began when he was removed from the selection committee and subsequently demanded that he be made head coach of both the white-ball and red-ball formats with increased compensation. The demand for an increased salary was turned down by the PCB.

Both coaches had also demanded that they be allowed to bring their own support staff, which further complicated matters. It is not a good look for the PCB that too head coaches have resigned so close to each other, especially when the players they have coached appear to be playing well. More generally, the champions trophy controversy and these resignations are part of a broader trend where events off the field get in the way of or supersede the progress being made on the pitch. With so much instability at the top, it is small wonder that our players have a hard time playing well consistently. While India refusing to play in Pakistan might be outside of the PCB’s control, the matter with the coaches is not. The PCB needs to work out a better formula to attract and retain top coaching talent.