Gillespie resigns as Pakistan's Test coach; Aaqib Javed to take over

Jason Gillespie has resigned as Pakistan’s red-ball coach. The 49-year-old informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about his decision hours before his scheduled flight from Adelaide to join the team in South Africa ahead of the two-match Test series. 

Gillespie’s decision was on expected lines during the uncertainties around Pakistan’s coaching setup, with the trouble beginning from Gary Kirsten’s resignation as the white-ball coach. However, the relations between the former Australian cricketer and PCB hit an all-time low when the board didn’t extend Tim Nielsen’s contract as the assistant red-ball coach. Gillespie and Nielsen shared a cordial bond working together. 

PCB has announced Aaqib Javed as the interim coach who is already in South Africa for the ongoing white-ball leg of the tour. Earlier, Javed replaced Kirsten as Pakistan’s white-ball coach, appointed until the 2025 Champions Trophy. Now, he will be also be coaching the team for the four Tests in this window – two away games vs South Africa and two home Tests vs West Indies. 

"The PCB has named Aaqib Javed as interim red-ball head coach following the resignation of red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie," the Pakistan Board said in a statement.

It is also understood that the PCB hadn’t inform Gillespie about their call on Nielsen's contract. It was only earlier in the day (December 12) when Gillespie got to know about it with the PCB announcing the decision formally. 

In November, Gillespie refused to coach the white-ball team until Champions Trophy as PCB offered him no extra incentives on his original red-ball contract. It was said the board would relieve Gillespie from his post in red-ball cricket as well but later clarified against it, claiming that the former pacer would be Pakistan’s coach for the Test series in South Africa. 

In October, Gillespie had also expressed frustration over the lack of communication with the board. Now, he has himself parted ways, following Nielsen’s departure. 

It was only in April that PCB announced Kirsten and Gillespie as Pakistan’s white-ball and red-ball coach respectively. Kirsten resigned within six months, in October. Now Gillespie has hung his boots serving eight months of his two-year contract. He coached Pakistan in all but five Tests. In his first assignment, Pakistan lost to Bangladesh 0-2 for the first time at home but marked an incredible return from 0-1 to clinch the the following series 2-1 against England. Later, he was also with the team during the white-ball games in Australia during which Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1. 

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