Former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie accuses Aaqib Javed of undermining him and Gary Kirsten during their Pakistan coaching tenure, as the Men in Green suffer a disastrous Champions Trophy exit.
Jason Gillespie Slams Aaqib Javed for Backdoor Politics
New Delhi, March 5 – Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan’s interim head coach Aaqib Javed, accusing him of running a campaign “behind the scenes” to take over the coaching role.
Three months after resigning as Pakistan’s red-ball head coach, Gillespie has finally broken his silence, revealing that Aaqib actively worked to undermine him and former white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten.
“This is hilarious. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and me behind the scenes, campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown,” Gillespie wrote on Instagram in response to Aaqib’s remarks about Pakistan’s coaching instability.
Aaqib Javed’s Role in Pakistan’s Coaching Chaos
Aaqib Javed served as Pakistan’s chief selector when Gillespie and Kirsten were managing the team across all formats. However, their tenures were short-lived:
- Kirsten abruptly resigned in October 2024, just six months into his contract.
- Gillespie was handed the white-ball coaching role after Kirsten’s exit, but he too stepped down two months later.
- This left Aaqib in charge on an interim basis, a move that now seems to have been his goal all along.
With Pakistan’s disastrous Champions Trophy campaign fueling criticism, Aaqib attempted to shift the blame onto Pakistan Cricket Board’s mismanagement—a claim that Gillespie strongly rejected.
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Disaster – A Campaign to Forget
As Pakistan hosted a global cricket event for the first time in nearly 30 years, New Zealand spoiled the party, handing them a 60-run defeat in the group stage.
The defending champions then suffered a crushing loss to arch-rivals India, leaving their campaign in jeopardy. Their only hope was for Bangladesh to defeat New Zealand, but the Blackcaps sealed a five-wicket victory, ensuring Pakistan’s early group-stage exit.
Pakistan’s final match, a dead rubber against Bangladesh, was washed out due to rain, marking a disastrous end to their title defense.
Pakistan Cricket Board Plans Overhaul After Embarrassment
Following the team’s humiliating early exit, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is now looking to overhaul the white-ball team to prepare for future ICC events. With Aaqib Javed in charge, questions remain about whether his leadership will truly benefit Pakistan cricket or if more internal conflicts will emerge.
With Gillespie’s explosive allegations now public, Pakistan’s coaching saga is far from over. Will Aaqib Javed survive the storm, or is another shake-up on the way?
Tags: Pakistan Cricket, Jason Gillespie, Aaqib Javed, Gary Kirsten, Pakistan Coaching Controversy, ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan Team News, PCB Changes, Cricket Scandals, New Zealand vs Pakistan, Cricket Coaching Drama