Danish Kaneria wants Pakistan to appoint Gautam Gambhir-like head coach amid recent debacles

Danesh Kaneria suggested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appoint someone with a strong character like Gautam Gambhir as the head coach to stop the alarming decline of Pakistan cricket. The former Pakistan leg-spinner also highlighted the need to give longer ropes to the captains, something which has been a rarity in recent times in Pakistan cricket.

The Pakistan cricket team has disappointed their fans with their results, especially in the last 12 months. Babar Azam-led Pakistan failed to make it beyond the first round of the ODI World Cup in 2023 and the T20 World Cup earlier this year. The Test side has also let the country down, suffering whitewashes against Australia and Bangladesh this year.

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Babar had relinquished captaincy after the ODI World Cup debacle and Shaheen Afridi took charge of the T20 side for a short while. However, ahead of the T20 World Cup, the left-arm seamer was sacked, with Babar being reinstated. Kaneria voiced his displeasure with the frequent captaincy changes during a recent interview.

“Everything is taken for granted; that's why the downfall of Pakistan cricket has gone through making captains, changing captain. That will not work. Stick to your captain stick with him," Kaneria said while speaking to Republic.

"Okay, I have made him the captain for one year. I will ask him. I will ask him to give me an answer after one year. Nobody will touch him you have full support from me, but you need to perform. If you don't perform, you go out, so that's the thing you have to make tough decisions. Why, if you don't make tough decisions, things will not work," he added.

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The cricketer-turned-expert also wanted Pakistan to take a leaf out of arch-rivals India's book and appoint a head coach who could take bold decisions like Gambhir.

"Why today other teams are doing so well Why is the Indian team is doing so well? They had a Rahul Dravid who worked with the team very well now they have Gautham Gambir, a fantastic cricketer and fantastic guy. The way he reacts, he tells on the face. He doesn't go back and do backbiting; he's on the face straight away. This is how you have to be. You have to be strong, and like a strong person, you have to make the decision on the face, not at the back,” said Kaneria.