Toxic work culture in Pak cricket? Ex-coach Gary Kirsten slams Naqvi-led PCB

Gary Kirsten lifted the lid on PCB's interference, poor culture and power struggles under Mohsin Naqvi. He explained why his Pakistan stint collapsed and questioned how any coach could succeed in such a chaotic system.

Former Pakistan white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten has delivered a blistering critique of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), describing a toxic work culture marked by systemic interference and a lack of professional respect. Speaking months after his abrupt resignation, the World Cup-winning coach suggested that the environment under chairman Mohsin Naqvi made it virtually impossible to achieve sustained success.

Kirsten opened up about his difficult stint with Pakistan days after taking over as head coach of Sri Lanka. In a candid interview with talkSPORT Cricket, he detailed the frustrations that led him to step down in October 2024, just six months into his tenure and without overseeing a single ODI.

The World Cup-winning coach did not mince words about the noise that permeated the dressing room.

“The thing that surprised me probably more than anything was the level of interference. I don’t think I have ever seen it at that level before. Did it surprise me? I don’t know, but it was significant,” Kirsten said.

The former South African opener highlighted how the coaching staff were often treated as convenient scapegoats for broader administrative failures, pointing to the board’s tendency to respond to losses with restrictions rather than support.

“It is quite difficult for a coach to come in and formulate a way to work with the players when there is just this constant noise from the outside. It was tough and there were a lot of punitive actions around poor performance and things like that,” he added.