Jason Gillespie Hits Back at Aaqib Javed as Controversy Erupts Again in Pakistan Cricket

Internal conflict and controversy within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continue to make headlines. Former Pakistan fast bowler and current High Performance Director Aaqib Javed has now received a strong response from former Pakistan Test head coach and Australian pace legend Jason Gillespie over his recent criticism.

In a recent interview, Aaqib Javed claimed that after Pakistan’s defeat in the first Test against England in 2024, then-head coach Jason Gillespie and captain Shan Masood had no clear plan for what to do next. According to Aaqib, he and the selection committee then decided to change both the pitch and the team combination by bringing in specialist spinners, a move that helped Pakistan win the remaining two Tests and seal the series 2-1.

Responding to those remarks, Gillespie expressed his frustration on former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath’s Fast Bowling Cartel podcast. Taking a swipe at Aaqib, Gillespie said:

“Aaqib, Aaqib, Aaqib… You never asked me anything. You just came in and said, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’ You dumped extra sand on the pitch. Before the Rawalpindi Test, I even saw them using industrial dryers to dry the wicket, while workers were scraping the surface with knives. I didn’t agree with any of it.”

Gillespie also explained why Pakistan did not field specialist spinners in the first Test. He said that before the new selection committee took charge, the PCB’s directive was to select only players who had passed the mandatory fitness tests. Several spin bowlers had failed to meet those fitness criteria. However, after Aaqib took over, he spoke with the PCB chairman, changed the policy, and selected the squad according to his own preferences.

It is worth noting that Gillespie was appointed Pakistan’s red-ball head coach in April 2024 but resigned in December the same year. He later revealed that despite being the head coach, he was repeatedly excluded from key decision-making. He said major decisions—including the removal of the high-performance coach—were made without informing him, leaving him feeling sidelined and deeply disrespected.