The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Aqib Javed as the interim red-ball head coach following the resignation of Jason Gillespie just days before Pakistan’s Test series against South Africa. Gillespie’s departure marks another significant change in Pakistan’s cricket management, as the PCB continues to navigate challenges with its coaching staff.
Jason Gillespie, who signed a two-year deal as Pakistan’s red-ball coach in April, resigned citing frustrations with the PCB’s administrative decisions and lack of communication. His decision to step down was reportedly influenced by the PCB’s choice not to renew assistant coach Tim Nielsen’s contract, a move that Gillespie said caught him off guard.
Gillespie expressed dissatisfaction with being removed from the Test team’s selection panel in October, which reduced his role to that of a “match-day strategist.” Additionally, he believed Nielsen’s strong rapport with players was an asset, and the PCB’s decision not to extend Nielsen’s contract only deepened his frustrations.
Sources close to the matter suggest that Gillespie’s relationship with the PCB had become strained following limited communication during the team’s white-ball series in Australia, where he briefly served as interim coach after Gary Kirsten’s resignation.
With Gillespie stepping down, Aqib Javed will now lead the red-ball team as interim head coach. Aqib had previously been appointed as the interim white-ball coach after Kirsten’s resignation in October. His first assignment as red-ball coach will be the two-Test series against South Africa, with the first Test scheduled in Centurion from December 26 to 30, and the second in Cape Town from January 3 to 7.
Aqib’s appointment reflects the PCB’s recent preference for locally based coaching staff, a shift driven by dissatisfaction with overseas coaches spending limited time in Pakistan. This trend had also contributed to Kirsten’s earlier resignation.
Tim Nielsen, appointed as high-performance red-ball coach in August, had expressed his willingness to continue for the South Africa and West Indies tours. However, his non-resident status and the PCB’s broader policy toward overseas coaches likely influenced the decision not to renew his contract. The board has yet to name a permanent replacement for Nielsen, leaving uncertainty around the coaching structure ahead of the South Africa tour.
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Gillespie’s tenure with Pakistan began in July, with a challenging two-Test series against Bangladesh that ended in a historic home loss for Pakistan. His frustrations with the PCB’s decisions, including being excluded from the selection panel and witnessing the departure of key coaching staff, were evident in his remarks. “It wasn’t what I signed up for,” Gillespie said in an interview, reflecting on the changes during his tenure.