PCB refutes reports about Jason Gillespie’s alleged axing

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took to the microblogging website X (formerly Twitter) to “strongly refute” ESPN Cricinfo's report that Aaqib Javed, who’s currently involved with the PCB top brass as convenor of the men's cricket selection committee, is set to replace Jason Gillespie as the head coach of the senior Pakistan men’s team.

The PCB reply on X also mentioned that “…As announced previously, Jason Gillespie will continue to coach the Pakistan side for the two red-ball matches against South Africa.”

Earlier, the forementioned publication had put out a story reporting that the musical chair of Pakistan cricket was set to continue further as the recently appointed red-ball coach Gillespie, who was given the added responsibility of leading the team even on their white-ball tour of Australia, will be axed from his job. 

Notably, the friction between the PCB and coach Gillespie came out in the open when the coach was sidelined from the selection committee and, in his own words, travelling with the team just as a “match day strategist.”

Earlier, former head coach Gary Kirsten had resigned abruptly from his position on October 28 and Gillespie, the red ball coach, was given the added responsibility of coaching the white ball team on their tour to Australia. 

"Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men’s cricket team on next month’s white-ball tour of Australia after Kirsten submitted his resignation, which was accepted,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had in a media release on October 29. 

However, the release had not clarified whether Gillespie will remain the interim coach until another candidate is found in what is going to be the most important six months in Pakistan cricket’s last two decades. Even their reply to ESPN Cricinfo on X mentions about Gillespie coaching till the two Tests in South Africa, and didn’t provide any further details about Gillespie’s tenure. 

PCB also failed to provide details on who will coach the team that departs on the tour of Zimbabwe right after the end of the Australia series.

The next few months are very crucial for PCB and Pakistan cricket as they are scheduled to host the ICC Champions Trophy, their first-ever ICC event since the 1996 ODI World Cup. 

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