Jason Gillespie leaves Pakistan after embarrassing Test series loss to Bangladesh

Jason Gillespie has had a really unforgettable start to his international coaching career with Pakistan as they faced an embarrassing whitewash on home soil in the two-match Test series at the hands of Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, August 3.

However, the former Australian pacer will not have much time to look into the clean sweep in his very first assignment with the Pakistan cricket team, as he is set to fly back home right after the conclusion of the second and final Test in Rawalpindi.

Jason Gillespie and Tim Nielsen set to depart for Australia post-Test series

It is being reported by Cricket Pakistan that Pakistan’s red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and high-performance coach Tim Nielsen will depart for Australia on Wednesday on a short break from their duties.

Gillespie and Nielsen’s return to home is part of a strategic plan, as they will return to Pakistan just in time for the upcoming three-match Test series against England, which begins on October 7 in Multan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s physio Cliff Deacon and strength and conditioning coach Dreks Simon will remain in Pakistan. Deacon and Simon both will be conducting comprehensive fitness tests for the national Test squad and other international players.

This fitness test will be conducted to ensure that the Pakistan players are in top physical condition for the forthcoming fixtures, including the Champions One-Day Cup, which will be held in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29.

The Champions One-Day Cup will bring together some of the best cricketers, around 150, from across the country. Following Pakistan's disappointing 2-0 Test series loss to Bangladesh, Jason Gillespie has extended his support for captain Shan Masood.

Jason Gillespie defends Shan Masood's captaincy against Bangladesh

Despite the team's struggles, the head coach lauded Masood's leadership and acknowledged the challenges they are facing lately.

Jason Gillespie highlighted that while Masood did a great job as captain, the Pakistan team's overall performance has not met expectations, resulting in an embarrassing series loss at home.

The Test series saw Bangladesh achieve a historic whitewash for the first time against Pakistan. Furthermore, the Aussie legend has emphasized the need for improvements in various areas.

He expressed his belief in the team's potential, saying that although the players have shown their capability, consistency is crucial for better outcomes in the future.

Jason Gillespie said at the post-match press conference: “Shan has led the side very well. We just haven’t played well as a team, and that’s the reality. We need to sharpen up on certain areas, and we will sharpen up. I really want to back and believe in these players; they are good enough and have shown glimpses of how good we are. We just need to do it more often and consistently.”

Extremely disappointed: Masood on Pakistan's Test series loss to Bangladesh

On the other hand, Masood has expressed his disappointment over the team's defeat to Bangladesh in their home Test series. He stated, “Extremely disappointed; we were excited for the home season."