The off-field drama around the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continues to see no end. Jason Gillespie has decided to resign as the Pakistan Test coach. The decision comes hours before the 49-year-old Australian was supposed to board the flight to South Africa where Pakistan are scheduled to play a two-match Test series, starting on the 26th of December.
Aqib Javed has been named as the interim red-ball coach. PCB released a statement late on Thursday (December 12). The 52-year-old is also currently serving as the interim coach of the ODI and T20I teams. He is already in South Africa where Pakistan are in the middle of a three-match T20I series and will play three ODIs as well before the Test series kicks off.
According to reports, Gillespie’s decision to quit as the Pakistan red-ball coach was always around the corner after what transpired in the last few months. The relationship between Gillespie and the PCB was on the decline.
It was in April this year that Gillespie signed a two-year contract with the PCB as the head coach of the Test team. Gary Kirsten came on board as the white-ball head coach. However, both coaches didn’t last 2024 in their respective terms due to their differences with the PCB. Kirsten stepped down from his post in October and Gillespie had taken over as the interim white-ball coach for the tour of Australia.
He was supposed to take over as the all-format coach till the end of the Champions Trophy 2025. But the PCB wanted him to do it without any change in his contract or pay grade. That is what led to him not accepting the white-ball role. Hence, he didn’t extend his tenure in the shorter formats and followed suit in Test cricket as well ahead of the South Africa series.
PCB had reduced the role of Gillespie to a match-day strategist
During the Test series against England at home, PCB reduced Gillespie’s role to a “match-day strategist”. It came to light that he was not allowed to put forth his thoughts and calls on team selection. This is something that Gillespie admitted he hadn’t signed up for and he was clearly unhappy with his role in the side.
Despite the turmoil, Pakistan managed to overcome England and beat them 2-1 in a three-match Test series at home. Gillespie’s first assignment was against Bangladesh at home which Pakistan lost 0-2.
Last month, ESPNCricinfo reported that Gillespie is set to be removed as Pakistan Test coach. However, the PCB refused to claim such reports and confirmed that Gillespie will continue to remain at helm till the end of the South Africa series.
However, the PCB did not extend the contract of Tim Nielsen who was the high-performance coach in Test cricket for Pakistan. According to ESPNCricinfo, that seems to have played a part in Gillespie’s decision to step down from his role. Gillespie and Nielsen had an excellent working relationship and the former wanted the high-performance coach’s contract to be extended.
