PCB Chairman Responds to Jason Gillespie’s Criticism of Coaching Role

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has addressed remarks by former head coach Jason Gillespie, who resigned before Pakistan’s Test series against South Africa. Gillespie, who served as red-ball coach for seven months, had voiced dissatisfaction with PCB’s operations, claiming his role was diminished during his tenure. 

Gillespie’s time with Pakistan included a series loss to Bangladesh at home and a comeback win against England. However, midway through his stint, he was removed from the selection panel and excluded from team decisions. Though he expressed willingness to continue as a match-day strategist, Gillespie ultimately resigned when PCB did not renew assistant coach Tim Nielsen’s contract without consulting him. 

In an interview with ABC Sport, Jason Gillespie expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of communication and involvement in key decisions during his tenure. He described feeling blindsided by certain decisions and emphasised the importance of clear communication between the head coach and all stakeholders. Gillespie noted that being excluded from critical processes had been a significant point of contention for him.

In response to these claims, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi underscored that Jason Gillespie's responsibilities were limited to coaching. He clarified that the head coach's primary duty was to train the team, while decisions regarding player selection rested solely with the selection committee.

Following Gillespie’s resignation, Aaqib Javed was appointed interim head coach, also assuming white-ball duties after Gary Kirsten’s departure in October. 

Gillespie’s contract, part of a split-coaching structure introduced in April 2024, was intended to last two years but ended prematurely. Pakistan’s Test series against South Africa begins on December 26.