Former Pakistan red-ball coach Jason Gillespie has publicly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after his resignation, citing poor management and lack of communication as key issues.
In an interview with Australian media, Gillespie expressed his disappointment over the PCB’s decision not to renew the contract of his assistant coach, Tim Nielsen, which led him to opt out of Pakistan’s recent tour to South Africa. “I decided not to go on the South Africa tour because of Nielsen’s exclusion,” Gillespie said.
He also voiced frustration over the team selection process, stating, “I was often unaware of the team lineup even the day before matches.”
Despite these issues, Gillespie praised the strong relationship he had with the players, mentioning, “There was great harmony in the squad. The players fondly referred to Nielsen as ‘Grandpa’ due to his close rapport with them.”
The PCB has yet to respond to Gillespie’s claims. On December 12, the board confirmed his resignation and appointed Aqib Javed as interim red-ball coach for the upcoming Test series against South Africa.
This follows a pattern of coaching controversies at the PCB. In November 2024, former white-ball coach Gary Kirsten also resigned just six months into his tenure, prompting the PCB to appoint Gillespie as interim white-ball coach for the series against Australia.
These ongoing coaching changes and management challenges have raised concerns about the PCB’s handling of its coaching staff and overall team operations.
