PCB has denied reports of Gillespie’s dismissal.Image credit source: PCB
The cricket circus in Pakistan is not coming to an end. There is chaos once again at the Pakistan Cricket Board which has changed many captains and coaches in the last year. A report claims that the Pakistan Cricket Board is set to sack the team’s head coach Jason Gillespie. Gillespie was named head coach of the Pakistan Test team, while during the recent tour of Australia, he was also given responsibility for the ODI and T20 series. After the arrival of this report, now the Pakistani board has issued a statement calling it incorrect and has said that Gillespie will remain the team’s coach in the upcoming Test series as well.
On Sunday, November 17, a report by ESPN-Cricinfo claimed that the Pakistani board was once again making changes to the coaching staff and removing Gillespie as head coach of all formats. It was reported in the report that Gillespie’s tenure will end with the third T20 match against Australia on Monday, November 18 and in his place, former fast bowler and selection committee convener Aaqib Javed will take over the responsibility.
PCB told the whole truth
Now the Pakistani junta has issued a statement on social media denying these reports. PCB said in its statement that as per the previous announcement, Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan team for the second red ball match (Test matches) against South Africa. The Pakistani team will travel to South Africa next month for a 2-Test series, where the first Test match will begin from December 26. However, the Pakistani management did not say whether Gillespie will remain the head coach of the team only until this series or whether he will remain in the team even after this.
PCB strongly refutes the story. As previously announced, Jason Gillespie will continue to coach the Pakistan team for the two red-ball matches against South Africa.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 17, 2024
The reason for the dispute was given in the report.
PCB had appointed Jason Gillespie as Test team coach in May this year, while Gary Kirsten was given responsibility for the ODI and T20 team. But last month, Kirsten resigned after a dispute with the board. In such a situation, the board had entrusted the responsibility of training Gillespie for the ODI and T20 series on the tour of Australia. According to Cricinfo, PCB wanted Gillespie to remain the team’s coach in the Champions Trophy as well, but in return he was not willing to increase his salary by changing his contract. The report claims that after this, Gillespie rejected the offer, which did not please the PCB and the board decided to remove Gillespie completely.
