New Delhi: Jason Gillespie’s resignation as the red ball coach for the Pakistan Cricket team has convinced fans that no foreign coach can stay in the country due to the ‘nonsense management system’ and that Pakistan is ‘on the way to an isolated failed state in every capacity and every way’. They have now renamed the cricket board ‘Pakistan Circus Board’.
The general consensus is: “Not a day where this board doesn’t sabotage the team”
Former cricketers and analysts however, believe this was a long time coming and will not make a difference to the team. Former cricketer Basit Ali called it ‘a good move’ that was bound to happen.
Gillespie’s resignation comes a month after former white ball coach Gary Kirsten’s resignation in October this year. The board then announced the Australian coach as the interim head. Speculation about Gillespie’s resignation had been growing ever since the PCB chose not to renew assistant coach Tim Neilsen’s contract. Gillespie was reportedly upset by the fact that he was neither consulted nor informed before this decision was made. Although he was scheduled to fly to South Africa from Australia Friday for Pakistan’s two-match Test series, Gillespie informed the PCB that he would not be continuing in the role. As a result, Aqib Javed has been appointed as the interim red-ball head coach, with his first assignment being the series against South Africa, PCB announced in a press statement.
Social media reactions have been swift and scathing. Some fans argue that Pakistan’s cricket politics are driving away top international coaching talent. “Who would want to be treated like this?” cricket commentator Aatif Nawaz lamented, while others pointed fingers at PCB’s lack of respect for experienced coaches.
“It’s almost like they’re treating foreign coaches in a manner which will obfuscate any future interest from such professionals. Truly pathetic,” said cricket commentator Asim A.
Cricket commentator Saj Sadiq weighed in too, critiquing the PCB for hiring world-class coaches only to disrespect them and ultimately lose them. “You hire 2 of the world’s best international coaches, humiliate them, disrespect them, disrespect their work, and then you bring in the guy who has been working behind the scenes to ensure he got both jobs. Good old Pakistan cricket, it will never change,” he said.
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Not so surprising resignation
Jason Gillespie’s exit was anything but ordinary. What appeared to be a simple resignation soon turned into a full-blown saga of miscommunication, unmet expectations, and power plays.
According to sports journalist Qadir Khwaja, Gillespie’s unhappiness began brewing long before his resignation letter. In an X post, he wrote that the former Australian fast bowler reportedly felt sidelined after his removal from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee.
But that was just the beginning. When Gary Kirsten stepped down, Gillespie saw an opportunity to step up as head coach for both formats—Test and ODI. The ambitious Aussie, keen on taking the helm for both red-ball and white-ball teams, also made it clear he expected additional compensation for the extra responsibilities, according to Khwaja. Unfortunately for him, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was not on the same page. He rejected Gillespie’s request for a salary hike. Gillespie, added Khwaja, then issued an ultimatum: either grant him the extra pay and dual coaching role or he would resign. The PCB’s response? Not exactly favourable.
Despite the demands, Khwaja claimed the final straw came when he was asked to lead the team on the South Africa tour. Gillespie, unhappy with the handling of team selections and his lack of control over decision-making, decided he couldn’t stay in a system that wasn’t aligned with his vision.
Gillespie, along with Gary Kirsten, was brought in as the head coach for Pakistan’s red-ball and white-ball teams following the team’s disappointing performances across formats. However, both coaches grew disillusioned with the PCB’s one-sided decisions. Gillespie and Kirsten were removed from the selection panel and relegated to the role of match-day strategists, Gillespie himself had pointed out. Kirsten resigned as white-ball coach without ever coaching Pakistan in an ODI series, with his only assignment being the T20 World Cup, where Pakistan’s performance was disappointing. Gillespie, on the other hand, oversaw Pakistan’s 0-2 defeat to Bangladesh at home, but the team managed to bounce back under his leadership, winning the three-match Test series against England 2-1.
“PCB never seizes to amaze us all. Just when we think PCB can’t do anything more stupid. They are like ‘just watch us’,” said a Reddit user, summing up the situation.
Also read: Pakistan lets go of Jason Gillespie as white-ball coach. ‘No foreigner will apply for role’
Local coaches vs. foreign talent
Former cricketer Basit Ali in his YouTube show discussed Gillespie’s resignation with sports anchor Najeeb ul Hasnain. The two debated whether Pakistan needed foreign coaches at all.
Hasnain argued that while Pakistan has a rich cricketing heritage and plenty of homegrown expertise to draw from, local coaches often come with their own set of ‘baggage’—chief among them, internal politics and nepotism.
“If that is the case, hire a foreigner as the PCB head, see if it changes things. Tomorrow, you’ll say any foreigner can be a better PM candidate than the one we have now,” Ali sarcastically concluded.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)