The resignation of Jason Gillespie as the national team’s red ball coach is a major development for Pakistan cricket and adds to the already difficult situation facing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The resignation was informed to the PCB on Thursday, December 12, just hours before the team was supposed to play the second T20I against South Africa in Centurion. Mind you, PCB is already gruelling with the ICC Champions Trophy imbroglio.
ICC Champions Trophy not the only challenge for PCB
A PCB spokesman confirmed Gillespie’s resignation with Cricbuzz. The exit appears to be largely precipitated by the board’s decision not to renew the contract of Gillespie’s assistant coach, Tim Nielsen, with whom he reportedly shared a strong working relationship.
This resignation arrives at a particularly turbulent time for Pakistani cricket. The PCB is currently embroiled in a prolonged standoff with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the Champions Trophy impasse, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension. The hosting rights are up for a toss, with neither party agreeing to all the terms put forward by PCB.
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Gillespie, who was signed back in April this year for a two-year tenure with the red ball team, had been increasingly frustrated with the PCB’s management. His discontent stems from being kept out of the loop during key decisions in recent home series against England, with the Nielsen contract situation seemingly serving as the final trigger for his resignation. It is anticipated that Aqib Javed, a former Pakistan pacer, will be asked to take interim charge of the red ball team. Javed is already serving in a similar capacity for the white ball team and is currently in South Africa with the team for their upcoming series.
Upcoming Pakistan series
The team is scheduled to play: (All vs South Africa)
- 2 T20 International matches
- 3 One Day International matches
- 2 Test matches (part of the World Test Championship cycle)
- First Test vs SA in Centurion (from December 26)
- Second Test vs SA in Cape Town (January 3)
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