Jason Gillespie has resigned as head coach of the Pakistan Test team, informing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of his decision on Thursday (December 12), just hours before the team was scheduled to depart for South Africa for a two-Test series.
The PCB confirmed his resignation to Cricpulse, with a spokesman stating, “He has resigned,” but offered no further details.
Gillespie’s departure was expected, especially after the PCB chose not to renew the contract of his assistant coach, Tim Nielsen.
It is believed that Gillespie and Nielsen had a strong working relationship.
Later on Thursday, the PCB announced that Aaqib Javed would take over as the interim red-ball coach.
Aaqib had previously been appointed interim head coach of the white-ball team following Gary Kirsten’s resignation and is currently in South Africa with the Pakistan white-ball team for three T20Is and three ODIs.
“The PCB has named Aaqib Javed as interim red-ball head coach following the resignation of red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie,” the board said in a statement.
Aaqib’s first task as interim red-ball coach will be overseeing Pakistan’s two-match Test series against South Africa, with the first Test scheduled at SuperSport Park in Centurion from December 26 to 30, and the second at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town from January 3 to 7.
These developments come at a challenging time for Pakistan cricket, as the PCB faces ongoing issues, including a dispute with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the Champions Trophy.
Amidst the Champions Trophy standoff, the PCB is now grappling with another on-field issue.
Gillespie, a former Australian pacer, had been frustrated with several recent decisions made by the PCB, and the refusal to renew Nielsen’s contract was reportedly the final straw.
Gillespie had joined the PCB earlier this year on a two-year contract to coach the red-ball team.
However, he had expressed dissatisfaction with the PCB, particularly being excluded from key decisions during recent home series against England.
His departure follows that of Gary Kirsten, the white-ball coach, who left in October after being recruited alongside Gillespie in April.
The fact that both foreign coaches lasted less than six months raises concerns about Pakistan cricket’s stability and its ability to attract foreign coaching talent.
Gillespie’s tenure included overseeing Pakistan’s home Test series loss to Bangladesh (0-2) and their 2-1 victory over England, where they came back after losing the first Test.
He also worked with the Pakistan white-ball team during their tour of Australia in November, after Kirsten’s resignation.
Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1 but was swept in the T20I series by Australia.
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