In the wake of Pakistan's disappointing performance in the ongoing Test series against England, former head coach Jason Gillespie has publicly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Aaqib Javed. Following losses in the first two Tests at Headingley and Lord's, the PCB implemented significant changes to the squad, including the dismissal of head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, along with sending seven players home.
Gillespie, who had a brief tenure as Pakistan's head coach in 2024, expressed his dismay at the current state of the team, stating that it was painful to witness the turmoil unfold. He emphasized the impact of these changes on the players, noting, "I feel for the players, this is these guys' livelihoods," in an interview with The Australian newspaper.
The former Australian fast bowler pointed out the inconsistency in team selection, particularly highlighting the case of Salman Ali Agha, who captained the team in the first Test but was dropped for the second Test and subsequently sent home before the third. Gillespie questioned the logic behind such decisions, asking, "How does that work?"
Gillespie's criticism extended to Javed's approach to selection, asserting that there appears to be no coherent strategy in place. He remarked, "It's pretty clear they don't have a selection strategy at all, particularly under Aaqib Javed. They change their mind like they change their pants -- daily." This statement underscores the frustration surrounding the PCB's handling of team selections during a critical series.
In response to Javed's recent comments blaming Gillespie and former white-ball coach Gary Kirsten for the team's issues, Gillespie countered that Javed has been in charge of selections for two years and should take responsibility for the current situation. He stated, "Aaqib has been chairman of selectors for the past two years. We haven't even been there. Somehow he claims it is our fault. Make sense out of that. I think Javed needs to look at himself in the mirror."
Communication, or the lack thereof, between the PCB and its players has also come under scrutiny. Gillespie highlighted that many players learned of their dismissal through family, friends, and media reports rather than direct communication from the team management. He described this as disrespectful, emphasizing the need for better communication from the selectors to the players.
As the series stands, Pakistan has suffered significant defeats, losing by an innings and 103 runs in the first Test and by 194 runs in the second Test, giving England a commanding 2-0 lead in the three-match series. In light of these results, the PCB has recalled several players, including wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and opener Imam-ul-Haq, while appointing Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke to lead the team for the third Test, which is set to begin on September 9 in Birmingham.
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