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He explained that the communication between him and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was unclear. The dismissal of high-performance coach Tim Neilsen and his reduced involvement, including losing his influence in the selection committee, eventually led him to resign from his position.
Jason Gillespie has opened up about his struggles during his tenure as Pakistan’s red-ball coach, revealing a lack of clear communication with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the playing XI before matches. He also mentioned that his role had been reduced to little more than hitting catches during practice sessions. Gillespie, a former Australian fast bowler, was appointed as Pakistan’s red-ball coach in April on a two-year contract. He guided the team to a 2-1 series victory against England at home in October. However, he resigned from his position last week, just ahead of Pakistan’s Test series in South Africa. Aqib Javed has since been named as the interim Test coach, in addition to his responsibilities for the white-ball formats, following Gary Kirsten’s exit in October.
“I felt my job had been reduced to hitting catches on match mornings, and that was about it,” Gillespie said on ABC Grandstand during the third Test between India and Australia at the Gabba. He emphasized the importance of having clear communication as a head coach, particularly with selectors, and knowing the team lineup well in advance of matchday. Gillespie said that poor communication and his lack of involvement in key decisions, including team selection, led to his resignation. He also cited the sudden dismissal of high-performance coach Tim Nielsen as a tipping point.
“I went into the role with my eyes wide open,” Gillespie explained. “I was aware that Pakistan had gone through several coaches in a short time. Still, I believed I could make a positive difference. My aim was to create a relaxed yet focused environment where players could perform with freedom. I felt we were achieving that with the Test team, as seen in our series win against England.”
Despite the progress, Gillespie was frustrated by the PCB’s lack of communication. He shared that he was blindsided by Nielsen’s removal. “I had no idea they were letting Tim go. There was no communication about it at all. After a series of similar incidents in previous months, I started questioning if they really wanted me to do the job,” he said.
Gillespie also spoke about his strong relationship with Test captain Shan Masood and the positive impact Nielsen had on the team. “Shan and I developed a close bond, and I felt the team was moving in the right direction. The players had great respect for Tim, who they affectionately called ‘Grandpa.’ The feedback about his work was overwhelmingly positive, and the players were benefiting from his expertise.”
Reflecting on his time as coach, Gillespie said he believed the team had made significant progress. “Whether you’ve played one Test or 100, everyone has something valuable to contribute. We were creating an environment where players felt safe to do that, and we were making great strides in that space,” he concluded.
