Lahore: In a significant development, during a high-level camp organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, the esteemed position of white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten committed to reinvigorating the spirit of national pride within Pakistan cricket.
In the wake of a series of challenges, the PCB convened a high-level Connection Camp, designed to forge a cohesive and clear vision for the future trajectory of Pakistan cricket.
The camp was graced by the presence of nine distinguished Pakistani cricketers, including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shan Masood.
Additionally, the camp was attended by Pakistan's red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, and High Performance specialist David Reid.
During the press conference, Kirsten articulated the objectives of the Connection Camp, stating, "We have engaged in various discussions and activities aimed at bolstering Pakistan cricket's future prospects."
"Our collective aspiration is for the Pakistan team to achieve unparalleled success across all formats of the game. Today, we are focused on identifying and implementing strategies that will elevate the team to its zenith. A critical aspect of this is the enhancement of professionalism among the players, which was a point of discussion. We are committed to ensuring that our team represents Pakistan with the utmost pride and dignity," Kirsten elaborated.
He further emphasized the exceptional talent within Pakistan's cricket squad across all three formats, highlighting the collective desire for a successful team that competes at the highest level.
"We are united in our vision for a victorious team. Our aim is not just to compete but to excel. Pakistan cricket possesses a wealth of talent in all formats, and it is our mission to establish a robust system within the country that fosters competition and unity among our team members. This, in turn, will enable us to face the world's top teams with confidence," Kirsten concluded.
The recent Test series defeat against Bangladesh has underscored the challenges Pakistan cricket has faced over the past few years.
In the T20 World Cup, Pakistan encountered another setback following their loss to the co-hosts, the USA, in a Super Over that ended in a thriller. This defeat was followed by another loss to India, which sealed Pakistan's exit from the group stage.
In the coming weeks, Pakistan will host England in a three-match Test series on their home turf. The series is scheduled to begin on October 7, with the second match to be played on October 15, and the final Test on October 24.
