Gillespie Criticizes Pakistan Selectors After Mid-Series Overhaul

Jason Gillespie says Pakistan’s mid-series overhaul reflects instability away from the field. The former coach criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board after it sent seven players home and changed its coaching staff following heavy defeats by England.

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I feel for the players, this is these guys’ livelihoods

Pakistan lost the opening test by an innings and 103 runs, then fell by 194 runs in the second. The team failed to score more than 200 in any of its four innings. Former captain Salman Ali Agha went from leading the side in the first test to being dropped from the second and sent home before the third.

“I feel for the players, this is these guys’ livelihoods,” Gillespie told The Australian newspaper. “From the outside it looks like they are playing with fear. Salman Ali Agha goes from captaining the team in the first test against England, to being out of the team for the second test and on the plane home before the third test. How does that work?”

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From the outside it looks like they are playing with fear. Salman Ali Agha goes from captaining the team in the first test against England, to being out of the team for the second test and on the plane home before the third test. How does that work?

Gillespie, who coached Pakistan from April to December 2024, said consistency on the field required stability at board, selection and coaching levels. Pakistan have had six test coaches in three years and have won only one of their last eight test series since August 2024. That run includes a 2-1 series win over England under Gillespie.

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If you want consistency on the field there needs to be consistency off the field. That goes to board level, selection and coaching level.

He also rejected claims by Aaqib Javed, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s director of high performance and former chairman of selectors, that Gillespie and former white-ball coach Gary Kirsten were responsible for the team’s problems. Gillespie said some players learned of their omission through relatives, friends and the media, calling the process disrespectful. Despite his criticism, he said Pakistan had talent “as good as anywhere in the world” and needed support off the field. The board had not responded to a Reuters request for comment.

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The talent there is as good as anywhere in the world