Islamabad, Dec 17: Former Australian all-rounder Jason Gillespie has explained the reasons behind his resignation as Pakistan’s red-ball head coach, citing poor communication and a diminishing sense of purpose in his role.
In a candid interview with Australian media, Gillespie, who stepped down after a challenging period with the Pakistan cricket team, shared the frustrations that led to his decision.
The 49-year-old expressed 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.”
He also mentioned how his role within the team gradually lost its importance, especially as his responsibilities were reduced to tasks like catching practice on match days.
“My purpose as a coach in Pakistan was fading,” Gillespie explained. “I was reduced to giving catching practice to players on match mornings.”
He emphasized the importance of communication for any head coach, highlighting that he was excluded from crucial decisions that impacted team strategy. “It is essential for a head coach to maintain full communication with selectors and everyone involved,” he said. “For planning, I need to be informed about the squad at least a day ahead. Without these basics, working becomes very difficult.”
Gillespie also expressed frustration at being kept in the dark about other significant decisions, such as the formation of the new selection committee. He found out about these changes through a text message in a group chat after Pakistan’s first match against England. “No one discussed the selection committee issue with me,” he said.
A particularly controversial decision for Gillespie was the dropping of Pakistan’s star batter, Babar Azam, during the Test series against England. The new selection committee made the decision without consulting him. “The decision to drop Babar Azam was made by the new selection committee,” he noted, stressing the lack of coordination with him and the board.
Gillespie’s resignation followed a mixed start to his tenure as head coach. He had been appointed on April 28, 2024, with his first assignment being a two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, which Pakistan lost 2-0. However, under his leadership, the 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 frustration with the PCB’s internal issues 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 I plan the match when I wasn’t consulted on selections and wasn’t even contacted about dropping Babar Azam?”
The decision not to extend Nielsen’s contract, which expired after Pakistan’s recent tour of Australia, was a key source of dissatisfaction for Gillespie. Nielsen, who was appointed in August 2024, had his contract ended despite efforts to continue working with the team.
Following Gillespie’s resignation, the PCB appointed former fast bowler Aqib Javed as interim head coach ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, scheduled in Centurion and Cape Town from December 20, 2024, to January 7, 2025.
