Islamabad, Mar 12 2025: Mickey Arthur has voiced his concerns over the ongoing rift in Pakistan cricket, triggered by Aqib Javed’s comments on the national team’s coaching setup and Jason Gillespie’s sharp response.
The controversy erupted when Javed, Pakistan’s current head coach, criticized the lack of stability within the cricket board while addressing the media after announcing the squad for the New Zealand tour. He pointed out that frequent changes in coaching and selection had hindered progress.
In response, Gillespie, the former red-ball coach, accused Javed of lobbying for a coaching role across all formats.
The former Australian all-rounder dismissed Javed’s remarks as an attempt to undermine the existing setup, referring to him as a “clown” in a social media post.
Arthur, weighing in on the matter, supported Gillespie and expressed disappointment over the recurring internal conflicts within Pakistan cricket.
He described the situation as chaotic and detrimental to the team’s development.
“Pushing agendas and manipulating media narratives have always been part of the system,” Arthur remarked. He lamented that despite securing high-quality coaches like Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, the usual politics had disrupted progress.
Arthur emphasized that such instability primarily affects the players, ultimately hindering Pakistan cricket’s long-term growth.
Arthur concluded by stating that until a consistent and transparent structure is established, the team will continue to suffer from internal discord.
