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Pakistan National Cricket Team selector Aaqib Javed accused former Pakistan cricket team coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie of overruling decisions made by the selectors. In a recent podcast, Javed claimed that Gillespie had no prior plans ahead of a Test match against England.
Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie both resigned as the Pakistan cricket team’s head coaches and left the team on sour notes. Both of the coaches accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of making interventions in the team-building process multiple times in the past. Now, it is Aaqib Javed who has come up with a different story to defend the PCB.
Aaqib Javed explains what was wrong between the Pakistan Cricket Board and Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie
During a recent podcast on the YouTube channel Public Sports and Public News, Aaqib Javed said that both former coaches were used to turning down every selector, and they were not ready to take suggestions from anyone.
“Frankly speaking, they used to overrule every selector. They weren't willing to listen to anyone,” the former cricketer said during the interaction.
Q - Why did Gary Kirsten & Jason Gillespie resign?
— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) July 13, 2026
Aaqib Javed said, "Frankly speaking, they used to overrule every selector. They weren't willing to listen to anyone. I went to Multan and spoke with Jason and Shan. I asked them, What was your plan after the first Test against… pic.twitter.com/nFsmzD1bMW
Aaqib Javed left disappointed with Jason Gillespie's reply
Recalling an incident, Aaqib Javed mentioned that ahead of a Test match against England, he travelled to Multan to speak with Jason Gillespie and then the captain of the Test team, Shan Masood. As per Javed, when he asked Gillespie what his plans for the upcoming Test match were, the coach said that he had no plans at that moment, which left him disappointed.
“I went to Multan and spoke with Jason and Shan. I asked them, What was your plan after the first Test against England? They had no plan. I said, This isn't going to work,” he added.
The former cricketer further claimed that as the coach had no such plans, the board prepared a suitable pitch for their team and brought quality spinners into the side. Pakistan eventually won the match against England. From there, the relationship between Jason Gillespie and the board started to deteriorate.
“We need to change both the pitch and the team. We brought in the spinners, Pakistan won & that's when things started to go wrong. He then said, I don't agree with that,” Aaqib Javed expressed.
Jason Gillespie accused the Pakistan Cricket Board of maintaining no proper communication
Gillespie was initially appointed in April 2024 on a two-year contract to manage Pakistan’s Test team. The former Australia pacer resigned from the job within the one-year time frame. Gillespie cited a breakdown in communication and a lack of support from the PCB; he left the team in December 2024.
On January 1, 2026, he took to his official ‘X’ account to explain why he suddenly left the job. According to the former Australia international, he felt humiliated when PCB removed senior assistant coach Tim Nielsen without any communication.
“I was coaching the Pakistan Test side. The PCB sacked our senior assistant coach with ZERO communication with me about it- as Head Coach, I found this situation completely unacceptable. There were several other issues which left me completely humiliated,” Gillespie said this before.
