The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently held a “connection camp” aimed at reviving the national team’s fortunes after a series of poor results and internal turmoil. The camp, led by head coaches Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, was designed to create a roadmap for improving team performance and unity. National captains Shan Masood and Babar Azam, along with other key players, participated in the discussions.
Pakistan cricket is in a difficult phase, facing major defeats, including losses to Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup and the USA in the T20 World Cup. Most recently, Pakistan lost 2-0 to Bangladesh in a home Test series, adding to the crisis. Rumors of dressing room divides have also surfaced, particularly after Shaheen Afridi’s brief stint as T20I captain, followed by Babar Azam’s quick reinstatement.
As per Salman:
The session was about this, that we openly and candidly accept and identify [issues] and ask for a commitment from each other, demand it, on how we can improve our performances and how we work together as a team,” Naseer said at a press conference in Lahore after the camp ended. “Our unanimous view was that we need to resolve this going forward and need to identify how we do it.”
Where the talk is of unity, it wasn’t only about the team,” Naseer acknowledged. “It was between the team and management and how we can work together to do things more successfully. These were definitely part of the discussions. We talked about planning, we talked about workload management.”Everyone is feeling that the performances of players, and management, can be better. The idea was to sit together, identify issues and what can be better. What our vision is and how do we get there?”
Gary Kirsten, reportedly surprised by the team’s disunity, worked alongside PCB COO Salman Naseer to address these internal issues. Open discussions were held, although the specifics were kept private to maintain a “safe space” for players. Tensions also arose over the board’s refusal to grant top players, including Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, NOCs for foreign leagues due to workload management concerns.
Both Gillespie and Kirsten focused on building trust and teamwork, with an emphasis on long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. Kirsten praised the depth of talent he observed, while Gillespie highlighted the players’ dedication to representing Pakistan. The camp aimed to create a shared vision for the future of Pakistan cricket, with team unity and strategic planning at the heart of their recovery efforts.
Kirsten said:
“I’ve been here the last 12 days or so watching the Champions Cup and have been really encouraged at the depth of quality of players in this tournament. It’s been fantastic to see. I’ve really enjoyed the tournament. The quality of the competition has been high. Been great to see a lot of young players showcasing what they are capable of.”
Gillespie said:
“Because we’re new to the job, our job is to listen and learn and look to implement ways where we can be more effective as players, as a team, and as coaches. What was really clear today was the pride the Pakistan players have in playing for Pakistan and how they want to inspire the country. That was really exciting to hear. The players care and are desperate to do well. We’re on this journey together and we’ll do everything we can to help.”
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