Former Pakistan Test team head coach Jason Gillespie has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), claiming that his role as head coach was reduced to just conducting catching practice on the field.
According to Cricket Australia’s website, Gillespie’s dissatisfaction with PCB stemmed from the sudden removal of assistant coach Tim Nielsen from the coaching group, a decision that Gillespie found shocking and unacceptable.
Power Struggles and Selection Issues
Gillespie revealed that following Pakistan’s loss in the first Test against England, the PCB unexpectedly formed a new selection committee. He was informed about this via a group text message, and the committee made decisions, such as dropping Babar Azam from the series, without consulting him.
Withdrawal from South Africa Tour
Gillespie stated that he was set to join the team for their South Africa tour but decided against it after Nielsen’s dismissal. He explained that being excluded from major decisions as head coach forced him to reconsider his role with the PCB.
Past Experiences and Resignation
The former head coach mentioned that past incidents with the PCB also contributed to his decision. He emphasized the importance of communication between the head coach, selectors, and other team officials, stating that the lack of such collaboration made his job untenable.
During his tenure, Gillespie led Pakistan to a historic Test series victory against England on home soil for the first time since 2005. However, his stint ended prematurely due to PCB’s inconsistent decision-making and lack of clarity in his role
