Former Pakistan red-ball coach Jason Gillespie has criticized interim head coach Aaqib Javed, alleging that he deliberately undermined both him and his predecessor, Gary Kirsten.
The former Australian pacer, who left his position just months after taking charge, blamed Javed for his and Kirsten’s abrupt exits from the coaching setup.
Javed’s remarks about Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 reignited controversy.
During a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday, he attributed the team’s struggles to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) frequent changes, stating that 16 coaches and 26 selectors had been appointed in the past two and a half years, disrupting the system.
While explaining the team’s direction, Javed noted that no player had been completely ruled out and that efforts were underway to instill a fresh mindset.
However, he insisted that experienced players could still play a role in the future. The PCB officially quoted his statement, reinforcing this stance.
Before Javed took over as interim coach, Gary Kirsten was appointed as the white-ball coach, while Gillespie was named the Test coach in what was initially seen as a promising step for Pakistan cricket.
Both were hired on two-year contracts before the T20 World Cup 2024, but Kirsten resigned soon after the tournament. Gillespie was later dismissed after refusing to assume an all-format coaching role without adjustments to his contract and salary.
Following Javed’s remarks, Gillespie took to the social media platform Threads to mock the interim head coach, calling him a “clown.” He accused Javed of working behind the scenes to push him and Kirsten out in a bid to secure the coaching role for himself.
