Jason Gillespie rips apart PCB, Aaqib Javed | Source- AFP
As Pakistan Cricket is going through yet another period of turmoil, the current Director of High-Performance (PCB), Aaqib Javed, is receiving heat from various former cricketers and fans. Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie has joined the long list of people mocking the Men in Green under Aaqib Javed.
After the Babar Azam-led Pakistan lost the Lord's Test vs England by 194 runs, the PCB dropped seven of their players before the third match, along with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, in the middle of the tour.
White-ball head coach Mike Hesson has been given the responsibility of the Test team, with seven under-experienced players called up on SOS. Apart from Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, the remaining five players have yet to make their debuts in the longest format.
Jason Gillespie blames Aaqib Javed for Pakistan's downfall
Amidst the drama unfolding, former Australian pacer, Jason Gillespie, who served as Pakistan's Test head coach for eight months in 2024, ripped apart the Pakistan team’s decision-makers by bringing in Salman Ali Agha’s example.
“I feel for the players; this is these guys’ livelihoods. From the outside it looks like they are playing with fear,” Jason Gillespie told Code Sports.
“Salman Ali Agha goes from captaining the team in the first Test against England to (being) out of the team for the second Test and on the plane home before the third Test,” he added.
Also Read: Aaqib Javed Major Controversies: From Imam-ul-Haq Drama To Match-Fixing Allegations
Furthermore, the legendary Aussie paceman blamed Aaqib Javed, who is also the Chairperson of Selectors at PCB, for Pakistan’s recent downfall.
“It’s pretty clear they don’t have a selection strategy at all, particularly under Aaqib Javed. They change their mind like they change their pants daily,” he said.
“Aaqib Javed came out recently and blamed (former Pakistan white-ball coach) Gary Kirsten and me for everything that is going on.”
Imam-ul-Haq's injury led PCB to take never-seen-before action
As they lost back-to-back Tests to England, not just Pakistan's strategies were exposed, but their players were as well.
Imam-ul-Haq sustained a left calf injury while fielding on the opening day of the second Test. The opener opted not to bat in either innings, as a precaution. However, if reports are to be believed, he faked his injury just to avoid the axing and media trials.
But as luck would have it, the opening batter, alongside Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and three more men, was dropped from the Test squad, with the Pakistan board’s Chairperson Mohsin Naqvi calling the decision a quick rotation. Moreover, he could face a ban of upto one to two years by the board.
When Jason Gillespie called Aaqib Javed a clown
It is not the first time Jason Gillespie has mocked Aaqib Javed publically. Soon after he had quit his job as Pakistan's Test head coach, he called Javed a clown.
As per the former Aussie quick, who took 402 international wickets, the PCB Director of High-Performance used to undermine Gillespie and the then white-ball coach Gary Kirsten.
"This is hilarious. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and I behind the scenes, campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown," Gillespie had remarked.
Nevertheless, the third and final ENG vs PAK Test will be played at Edgbaston Stadium between September 9 and 13, with Babar Azam's side looking to survive their first-ever series whitewash in England.
