Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has criticised selector Aaqib Javed, saying Pakistan are “playing with fear” after sweeping squad and coaching changes during their Test series in England.
Gillespie told The Australian that Pakistan appeared to have no consistent selection strategy. He said Javed needed to “look at himself in the mirror” rather than blame former coaches for the team’s problems.
His comments followed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to release seven players after England secured an unassailable 2-0 lead with a 194-run victory at Lord’s. The departing group included Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha. Salman had captained Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley.
Gillespie questioned how Salman could go from leading the team in Leeds to being dropped and sent home before the final Test. In addition, he also alleged that some players learned about their removal through relatives, friends or media rather than directly from team management.
Read: Pakistan Test Squad Adds Five Uncapped Players for Edgbaston
The PCB also released head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul. They replaced them with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke for the remainder of the tour. Seven replacement players were called up. Notably, five of them were uncapped at Test level.
Gillespie coached Pakistan for eight months in 2024. In that role, he oversaw their 2-1 home Test series victory over England before leaving the role later that year.
Pakistan will face England in the third and final Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham on September 9. The hosts are seeking a 3-0 series sweep. The match is scheduled to begin at 11 am BST (3 pm PKT).
