Jason Gillespie Lashes Out at PCB, Says Pakistan Stint Dimmed His Coaching Passion

Former Australia cricketer Jason Gillespie has once again taken aim at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), revealing that his brief tenure as Pakistan’s head coach has left a lasting scar on his enthusiasm for coaching.

Speaking candidly to Wisden, the ex-pacer admitted that the chaotic experience with the PCB has made him reconsider his future in full-time coaching roles as he reflected on a rollercoaster stint that ended abruptly in December last year.

Gillespie, who assumed the role of Pakistan’s Test coach in April 2024 with a contract extending to 2026, stepped down after just eight months, citing a breakdown in trust and communication with the board. His resignation came on the heels of guiding Pakistan to a historic ODI series win in Australia as he also served as interim white-ball coach following Gary Kirsten’s exit. 

Gillespie described the behind-the-scenes turmoil as a “blow” that soured his love for the craft.

"Right now, I’m not sure I’m interested in coaching full time. [Even if Australia come calling] No, I’m not interested," Gillespie said as quoted on Wisden’s Patreon podcast.

"The Pakistan experience has soured my love for coaching, I’ll be honest. I’ll get it back, I’m sure I will, but that was really a blow. It really disappointed me how that all ended," he added.

The 49-year-old pointed to a lack of transparency as the tipping point. A key grievance was the PCB’s decision to part ways with high-performance coach Tim Nielsen, a close ally Gillespie had brought on board.

"There were certainly challenges. I went into the job eyes wide open, I want to make that clear. I knew that, you know, Pakistan had cycled through several coaches in a pretty short space of time," Gillespie had earlier said to ABC Sport. 

"The straw that broke the camel’s back, I suppose, was, as a head coach, you like to have clear communication with your employer. I was completely and utterly blindsided by a decision to not have a high-performance coach," he mentioned further.

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Jason Gillespie Calls Aaqib Javed a Clown

Pakistan’s coaching carousel has been a revolving door in recent years with Gillespie joining a long list of coaches, who have clashed with the PCB’s unpredictable management. His predecessor Kirsten, appointed as white-ball coach alongside Gillespie, also resigned in October 2024, reportedly over similar frustrations. 

The duo’s departures paved the way for Aaqib Javed to take the reins across formats, a move Gillespie has since criticized, accusing Javed of undermining him during his tenure.

"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 wrote on Instagram.

Meanwhile, Pakistan continued to struggle on the field. After failing to win a single match in the Champions Trophy 2025, the side lost the T20I and ODI series to New Zealand, managing only one victory on the tour.