December 13th 2024.
In a recent announcement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed that Jason Gillespie has stepped down from his position as the Test team coach. The former pacer, Aaqib Javed, will now replace the Australian for the upcoming two-match series against South Africa. This decision comes just in time for the series, as the team is already in South Africa for the white-ball leg of the tour.
Currently, Aaqib is the interim coach for Pakistan's white ball outfits. Gillespie's contract was set to expire in 2026, but he chose to resign after the PCB did not review the contract of Tim Nielsen. Nielsen was brought in as the high performance coach on Gillespie's recommendation, but the PCB did not take any action on his contract. This was a major factor in Gillespie's decision to step down.
One of the issues that Gillespie had with the PCB was their decision to limit his powers in team selection and involvement in pitch preparation. This was a major disappointment for him, as he had high hopes for the team and wanted to contribute to their success in every way possible. This situation is similar to what happened with Gary Kirsten, who joined as the white ball side's coach along with Gillespie. Kirsten had resigned before Pakistan's series in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa due to differences with the PCB regarding authority.
Both Gillespie and Kirsten were appointed on a two-year contract before the T20 World Cup in 2024, with the PCB promising a new era for the Pakistan team. However, things took a turn when Aaqib was brought in as a senior selector and given full powers, including in team selection. This caused a rift between the foreign coaches and the PCB, leading to their resignations.
In conclusion, the sudden resignation of Jason Gillespie and the appointment of Aaqib Javed as the new Test team coach has caused quite a stir in Pakistan cricket. The PCB's decision to limit Gillespie's powers and the subsequent fallout with Kirsten have raised questions about the future of the team and their performance in the upcoming series against South Africa. Only time will tell how this coaching change will affect the team in the long run.
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