Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria has once again stirred the pot with shocking revelations regarding Pakistan cricket’s declining performance. Known for his candid remarks about the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Kaneria has now exposed what he believes to be one of the primary reasons behind the team’s downfall – corruption within the appointment process of foreign coaches. In an exclusive interview, he pointed out that the PCB’s preference for foreign coaches may not be solely about the team’s success, but about commissions earned during appointments.
Constant Coaching Changes Affecting Pakistan Cricket
Danish Kaneria highlighted that Pakistan’s downfall in cricket stems from constantly switching coaches, resulting in inconsistency and confusion within the team. Since 2016, Pakistan has changed five coaches, including well-known figures like Mickey Arthur, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, and currently Jason Gillespie. Despite these changes, Pakistan’s performance, especially in Test cricket, remains lackluster.
Kaneria compared this with the Indian cricket team’s decision to appoint local coaches after Duncan Fletcher’s departure in 2015. According to him, this approach led to India’s success across all formats, while Pakistan continues to struggle. He argued that India’s decision to back homegrown coaches has given them a competitive edge, with coaches like Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid building a solid foundation. In contrast, Pakistan’s reliance on foreign coaches, according to Kaneria, has created a disconnect between players and management.
Foreign Coaches as Tourists?
One of Kaneria’s most eye-catching claims is that foreign coaches coming to Pakistan are more like tourists. He alleges that these coaches spend limited time in Pakistan, only appearing for major series and then heading back to their home countries. This, he believes, is the result of the PCB’s practice of selecting foreign coaches, not for merit but for monetary commissions. Kaneria explained that the short-term presence of these coaches prevents them from developing any deep understanding of the team or domestic cricket structure.
He reminisced about the time when Bob Woolmer was the head coach of Pakistan. Woolmer, according to Kaneria, invested time in the local cricket circuit, identifying and nurturing young talent. However, current foreign coaches, in his view, lack this commitment.
India’s Success Under Local Coaches
Praising India’s approach, Kaneria pointed out that since 2016, India has placed its trust in local coaches. From Anil Kumble to Ravi Shastri and now Gautam Gambhir, the Indian team has flourished under local leadership. He believes that these local coaches are well-versed with the players and domestic cricket scene, which has led to India’s consistent performance on the global stage.
Kaneria emphasized that the Indian coach and captain are always on the same page, working together with support from the BCCI, which results in a unified and strategic approach to the game. This clear alignment is something he feels is missing in Pakistan, where confusion reigns over who truly runs the team.
PCB’s Poor Decision-Making
Kaneria also criticized the PCB for its lack of direction, questioning whether the team is being run by the coach, the captain, or someone else entirely. With foreign coaches often away from the team for extended periods, there’s uncertainty about how much influence they truly have. The instability has left fans and experts questioning how much authority current head coach Jason Gillespie and captain Shan Masood hold in shaping the team’s future.
According to Kaneria, unless the PCB reassesses its strategies and focuses on long-term planning with the right people in charge, Pakistan will continue to lag behind its neighbors, particularly India, in cricket.
