Former Australia cricketer Jason Gillespie has once again taken aim at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), revealing that his brief tenure as Pakistan’s head coach has left a lasting scar on his enthusiasm for coaching.
Speaking candidly to Wisden, the ex-pacer admitted that the chaotic experience with the PCB has made him reconsider his future in full-time coaching roles as he reflected on a rollercoaster stint that ended abruptly in December last year.
Gillespie, who assumed the role of Pakistan’s Test coach in April 2024 with a contract extending to 2026, stepped down after just eight months, citing a breakdown in trust and communication with the board. His resignation came on the heels of guiding Pakistan to a historic ODI series win in Australia as he also served as interim white-ball coach following Gary Kirsten’s exit.
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading...
Gillespie described the behind-the-scenes turmoil as a “blow” that soured his love for the craft.
"Right now, I’m not sure I’m interested in coaching full time. [Even if Australia come calling] No, I’m not interested," Gillespie said as quoted on Wisden’s Patreon podcast.
"The Pakistan experience has soured my love for coaching, I’ll be honest. I’ll get it back, I’m sure I will, but that was really a blow. It really disappointed me how that all ended," he added.
The 49-year-old pointed to a lack of transparency as the tipping point. A key grievance was the PCB’s decision to part ways with high-performance coach Tim Nielsen, a close ally Gillespie had brought on board.
"There were certainly challenges. I went into the job eyes wide open, I want to make that clear. I knew that, you know, Pakistan had cycled through several coaches in a pretty short space of time," Gillespie had earlier said to ABC Sport.
"The straw that broke the camel’s back, I suppose, was, as a head coach, you like to have clear communication with your employer. I was completely and utterly blindsided by a decision to not have a high-performance coach," he mentioned further.
Also read: "If I Become Chairman..." - Saud Shakeel Takes Playful Swipe at PCB in Viral Interview Moment
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading...
Jason Gillespie Calls Aaqib Javed a Clown
Pakistan’s coaching carousel has been a revolving door in recent years with Gillespie joining a long list of coaches, who have clashed with the PCB’s unpredictable management. His predecessor Kirsten, appointed as white-ball coach alongside Gillespie, also resigned in October 2024, reportedly over similar frustrations.
The duo’s departures paved the way for Aaqib Javed to take the reins across formats, a move Gillespie has since criticized, accusing Javed of undermining him during his tenure.
"This is hilarious. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and I behind the scenes campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown," Gillespie wrote on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Pakistan continued to struggle on the field. After failing to win a single match in the Champions Trophy 2025, the side lost the T20I and ODI series to New Zealand, managing only one victory on the tour.
