Former Australian cricketer Jason Gillespie has stepped down as the head coach of Pakistan’s Test side, just days before their crucial two-match series against South Africa. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Aaqib Javed as the interim red-ball head coach.
Jason Gillespie was set to travel to South Africa on Friday to join the Test squad. However, hours before his departure, he informed the PCB of his decision to resign, leaving the team without a permanent coach during an important series.
Relations between Gillespie and the PCB reportedly soured after the board decided not to renew the contract of Tim Nielsen, the high-performance red-ball coach, without consulting him. This decision left Gillespie frustrated, as Nielsen had expressed his willingness to continue and was fully available for the South Africa series.
The PCB’s alleged plans to appoint Aaqib Javed as an all-format head coach, which were previously denied, add another layer of intrigue. Earlier reports had suggested such a move, but the PCB had publicly dismissed them, insisting Gillespie would remain in his role.
Gillespie’s resignation and the subsequent appointment of Aaqib Javed as interim coach mark a significant shift in Pakistan cricket’s coaching structure. It remains to be seen if the PCB will stick with Javed long-term or explore other options post-series.
