Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shortly after abruptly stepping down as the team’s Test head coach. The 49-year-old resigned on Friday, December 13, after refusing to travel for Pakistan’s upcoming Test series in South Africa.
Gillespie’s resignation followed the PCB’s dismissal of high-performance coach Tim Nielson, reportedly without adequate communication. Appointed as Pakistan’s Test head coach in April on a two-year contract, Gillespie finally addressed his decision to step down during an interview with ABC Grandstand.
“I went into the job eyes wide open, I want to make that really clear. I knew that Pakistan had cycled through a number of coaches in a pretty short space of time but I put my case forward and explained how I felt I could help.”
“But the straw that broke the camel’s back… as a head coach you like to have clear communication with your employer and I was completely and utterly blindsided by a decision to no longer have a high-performance coach.”
He further added:
“My senior assistant coach Tim Nielsen was told his services were no longer required and I had zero communication from anyone about that and I just thought after a number of other things that had gone on in the previous few months, that was the moment I thought well I’m not really sure they actually want me to do this job.”
“I had formed a strong bond with the Test captain, Shan Masood”- Jason Gillespie
Jason Gillespie, despite stepping down, acknowledged having an excellent rapport with Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood and the rest of the team.
In addition to Gillespie, former South African batter Gary Kirsten was appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball coach in May. However, Kirsten also resigned early in October for similar reasons.
“I had built a strong relationship with Test captain Shan Masood, and we were heading in the right direction. Tim was highly effective in his role, with players benefiting greatly from his input and enjoying lighthearted banter, calling him ‘grandpa,'” said Gillespie.
He further concluded:
“Despite positive feedback about our coaching group, the PCB made a major decision about Nielsen without even informing me. It left me questioning if the board truly wanted me,” Gillespie said.
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