Former Australian all-rounder Jason Gillespie has revealed the reasons behind his resignation as Pakistan’s red-ball head coach, citing a lack of communication and diminishing purpose in his role.
In a candid interview with Australian media, Gillespie, who stepped down from his post after a tumultuous period with the Pakistan cricket team, shared the frustrations that led to his decision.
The former fast bowler highlighted his dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) handling of key decisions, particularly their treatment of his role and the dismissal of High-Performance Coach Tim Nielsen.
“I was completely unaware of the decision not to retain Tim Nielsen,” Gillespie said. “This, along with several past issues, made me question whether I was truly needed. Not informing the head coach about such a significant decision compelled me to think this way.”
The 49-year-old expressed how his role within the team gradually lost its significance, particularly when his responsibilities were reduced to basic tasks like catching practice on match days.
"The purpose of my coaching stint in Pakistan was fading away," Gillespie explained. "I was reduced to giving catching practice to players on match mornings."
The former Australian cricketer further emphasized the importance of effective communication for any head coach, noting that he was left out of crucial decisions that directly affected team strategy. "It is essential for a head coach to maintain full communication with selectors and everyone else involved," he remarked. "For planning purposes, I need to be informed about the squad at least a day in advance. Without these basic requirements, working becomes very difficult."
Gillespie also recounted the frustration of being kept in the dark about other major decisions, such as the formation of the new selection committee. He learned about the changes via a text message in a group chat after Pakistan’s first match against England. “No one discussed the selection committee issue with me,” he revealed.
A particularly controversial decision that Gillespie found unsettling was the dropping of Pakistan's star batter, Babar Azam, during the Test series against England. The decision was made by the new selection committee without consulting him. “The decision to drop Babar Azam was made by the new selection committee,” Gillespie noted, underlining the lack of coordination between him and the board.
Gillespie’s resignation came after a mixed start to his tenure as head coach. He had been appointed on April 28, 2024, and his first assignment was a two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, which Pakistan lost 2-0. However, under his guidance, the Pakistan team bounced back to defeat England 2-1 in a three-match home Test series.
Despite his departure, Gillespie praised the talent of Pakistan’s cricketers but expressed deep dissatisfaction with the PCB’s internal workings and their failure to communicate effectively with him. "After being removed from the selection committee’s affairs, my powers were severely limited," he said. "How could the match be planned when I wasn’t taken into confidence regarding the selection, and I wasn’t even contacted about dropping Babar Azam?"
The decision not to extend the contract of Nielsen, the high-performance coach, was a key source of Gillespie’s discontent. Nielsen, who was appointed in August 2024, had his contract expire following Pakistan’s recent tour of Australia. Despite his efforts to continue working with the team, the PCB informed Nielsen that his services were no longer required.
Following Gillespie’s resignation, the PCB has appointed former fast bowler Aqib Javed as the interim head coach ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, set to take place in Centurion and Cape Town from December 20, 2024, to January 7, 2025.
