Jason Gillespie resigned as Pakistan’s cricket coach, citing feelings of being undermined. He criticized interim coach Aaqib Javed, referring to him as a “clown”. Aaqib acknowledged heavy turnover in coaching staff impacted the team, emphasizing the need for consistency. As a result, Aaqib will continue while the Pakistan Cricket Board searches for a permanent replacement.
Jason Gillespie has publicly expressed his thoughts regarding his tenure as Pakistan’s test cricket coach, indicating that he felt undermined during his time in the role. His departure in December occurred just eight months after he was appointed for a two-year term, following an unsuccessful start. Gillespie is notably a former Australian fast bowler with substantial international experience, having played 71 tests and 97 one-day internationals between 1996 and 2006.
His resignation came shortly after another foreign coach, Gary Kirsten, stepped down from his position as the limited-overs coach. Aaqib Javed, the current interim head coach and Pakistan’s national selector, recognized the disruptive pattern within the team, citing a significant turnover of coaching staff that included nearly 16 coaches and 26 selectors in two years.
In a recent news conference, Aaqib opined that this instability has affected the team’s performance, particularly after failing to reach the knockout stage of the Champions Trophy amid defeats to New Zealand and India. He emphasized the need for consistency throughout the team’s structures, stating, “Until you get consistency right from the top down to the bottom, from the chairman down, then your team will not progress.”
In reaction to these comments, Gillespie took to social media, asserting that Aaqib was actively undermining him and Kirsten during his coaching tenure. He referred to Aaqib as a “clown” in his Instagram post, suggesting that there was a campaign to oust him in favor of Aaqib’s ambition to lead the team in all formats.
Despite Gillespie’s departure, Aaqib, a recognized former cricketer himself, continues to manage the test squad while seeking a permanent coach from the Pakistan Cricket Board. Aaqib’s contract was originally set for the duration of the Champions Trophy, but it appears he will retain the position for the immediate future as the search for a full-time replacement is underway.
The departure of Jason Gillespie as Pakistan’s test cricket coach highlights significant issues within the national team’s management structure. His claims of being undermined and the subsequent commentary from interim coach Aaqib Javed suggest a troubling environment marked by instability and inconsistency. Acknowledging the need for continuity, the Pakistan Cricket Board now faces the challenge of identifying a suitable long-term coaching solution to enhance the team’s performance.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
