Cricket

Jason Gillespie's tenure as Pakistan's head coach is set to end abruptly, with Aaqib Javed poised to take over across all formats. This latest coaching shakeup underscores the ongoing instability within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Gillespie, who currently serves as Test coach and interim white-ball coach, is expected to be relieved of all duties. Aaqib, recently appointed convenor of the men's cricket selection committee, is the frontrunner to replace him.The decision, which could be announced as early as Monday, stems from Gillespie's refusal to take on additional white-ball responsibilities without a contract amendment. The PCB, however, maintains that Gillespie's lack of time spent in Pakistan is the primary reason for his departure.Gillespie contends that he has fulfilled his contractual obligations and has even worked without pay on the Shaheens tour of Darwin. The PCB's insistence on his physical presence in Pakistan raises questions about the board's priorities, given the team's upcoming schedule.After Gillespie's departure, the PCB initially considered elevating Azhar Mahmood or reappointing Saqlain Mushtaq. However, Aaqib emerged as the preferred candidate, with the PCB offering him the role until the end of the Champions Trophy.Gillespie's tenure has been marked by both highs and lows. Pakistan suffered a humiliating 2-0 home defeat to Bangladesh but rebounded with a 2-1 triumph over England. Gillespie also oversaw Pakistan's first series victory in Australia in 22 years.Aaqib's appointment marks a rapid rise for the former coach and director of cricket operations at Lahore Qalandars. He is credited with implementing spin-friendly wickets against England, which proved decisive in Pakistan's series win.Pakistan faces a packed cricket schedule in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, including white-ball matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as Test matches against West Indies. Aaqib will be tasked with guiding the team through this challenging period.

Pakistan's historic ODI series triumph in Australia, their first in 22 years, was a testament to their resilience and determination. The team's 2-1 victory in the three-match series was sealed with an emphatic eight-wicket win in the decider at Perth.Pakistan's coach, Jason Gillespie, expressed his delight with the team's performance but also raised concerns about the lack of promotion for the ODI series in Australia. "I saw no promotion of our one-day series by Cricket Australia," Gillespie said. "It's pretty obvious that they're prioritizing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India."Gillespie acknowledged that Australia's decision to rest key players for the series, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne, gave Pakistan an advantage. "We knew that there was probably going to be some change," he said. "We anticipated that, and that's the nature of modern cricket."Despite the lack of promotion and the absence of Australia's top players, Pakistan played with unwavering determination. They bowled out Australia for a paltry 140 in the decider, with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf sharing seven wickets between them. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq then led Pakistan's chase with half-centuries, guiding the team to victory with eight wickets in hand.Gillespie praised his team's performance, saying, "It was pleasing not just to beat Australia but beat them pretty convincingly. The reality is we should have won the first game as well."Pakistan's ODI series win in Australia is a significant achievement for the team and a testament to their growing strength in the format. It also highlights the need for greater promotion and recognition of ODI cricket in Australia.

Pakistan's head coach Jason Gillespie has criticized Cricket Australia and broadcasters for prioritizing the upcoming Test series against India over the recently concluded ODI series against Pakistan. Pakistan's historic 2-1 victory in the ODI series, their first in Australia since 2002, received minimal publicity, according to Gillespie."To be honest, I pretty much saw no promotion of our one-day series by Cricket Australia, which was a bit of a surprise," Gillespie told the Sydney Morning Herald. "It's pretty obvious that they're prioritizing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India because I saw no promotion of this series."The Indian team will aim to secure an unprecedented third consecutive Test series victory in Australia. They previously achieved consecutive series wins in 2018-19 under Virat Kohli's captaincy and in 2020-21 under Ajinkya Rahane.The Test series begins with the first match in Perth on November 22, followed by a day-night encounter at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The competition then moves to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test from December 14 to 18, before the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The concluding Test match will be played in Sydney, starting on January 3.Gillespie's criticism highlights the disparity in attention given to different cricket series based on the perceived importance of the participating teams. While the India-Australia Test series is highly anticipated, the Pakistan-Australia ODI series received less fanfare. This disparity can impact the morale of players and the overall perception of the sport.

Ahead of the highly anticipated five-match Test series between India and Australia, Pakistan's interim head coach Jason Gillespie has drawn comparisons between star pacers Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah. Gillespie, a former Australia pacer, emphasized the similarities in their relentless approach and ability to create wickets when others struggle.Gillespie highlighted the relentless nature of Cummins and Bumrah, who consistently attack batters with challenging lines and lengths. He praised their ability to ask questions of batsmen's technique and force them into making mistakes."Their major strength is they are pretty relentless in attacking the batters," Gillespie said. "They have a good pace, bowl challenging lines and lengths. They are always asking questions about batsmen's technique. They are always making sure that the batsman has to make good decisions or they will get themselves out."Gillespie also acknowledged the unique ability of Cummins and Bumrah to produce unplayable deliveries, whether through late swing, extra pace, or unpredictable movement off the surface. He described their knack for creating wickets out of seemingly nothing as a rare and valuable asset."They just have a knack for creating a wicket when there doesn't seem to be a wicket," Gillespie said. "They just create opportunities seemingly out of nowhere."With India missing the services of injured pacer Mohammed Shami, Gillespie believes Bumrah holds the key for the visitors. He praised Bumrah's importance in the current Indian Test set-up and highlighted his ability to lead the bowling attack."Mohammed Siraj is a nice bowler, he bowled some pretty good spells the last time he was here," Gillespie said. "But I still think the key bowler for India is Bumrah."Gillespie also commented on the venue for the series opener in Perth, describing it as a fast and bouncy track that will challenge batters early on but play well as the match progresses.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering appointing Jason Gillespie as the all-format head coach of the national team, according to sources. The decision hinges on the results of the ongoing white-ball tour of Australia.Gillespie, who is currently the Test team head coach, has taken charge of the white-ball side in Australia following Gary Kirsten's sudden resignation. The PCB is reportedly impressed with Gillespie's performance so far and is considering offering him the all-format role."For the moment, the Board is working on a plan to appoint Jason Gillespie as all-format head coach instead of advertising for new candidates," a PCB source told PTI. "If Pakistan performs satisfactorily in the remaining games in Australia, then in all probability, Gillispie would be asked to take over as all formats head coach."Pakistan lost the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne but has a chance to redeem itself in the remaining two ODIs and three T20Is. The team will then travel to Zimbabwe for another white-ball series.The PCB is confident that Gillespie will agree to become an all-format head coach, at least until next April. However, the board has also drawn up a shortlist of three former Pakistan players, including ex-Test spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, as potential alternatives."But, the PCB's preference is to have Gillespie to also be white-ball head coach if he agrees," the source said.Gillespie's appointment would mark a significant change in the PCB's coaching structure. In recent years, the board has appointed separate head coaches for the Test, ODI, and T20I teams. However, the PCB believes that a single head coach would provide greater consistency and stability to the national team.

Pakistan's red-ball format head coach, Jason Gillespie, has expressed his concern over the negative impact of unwarranted criticism from former cricketers on the national team. Gillespie believes that such comments, often made on TV shows and YouTube channels, can deeply affect the players' morale and create a hostile environment.Gillespie emphasized the importance of creating a safe and supportive space for the players, where they can focus on their performance without the added pressure of external criticism. He urged former players to be more judicious in their opinions, especially on social media, as their words can have a significant impact on the players' confidence.Gillespie also acknowledged his frustration over his reduced role as head coach after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stripped him and Test skipper Shan Masood of their places in the selection committee and removed their say in pitch preparation. He admitted that this was not what he had signed up for, but emphasized his commitment to helping the Pakistan team succeed.Gillespie highlighted the challenges of working in a different environment, where things are done differently. He said that he had to adapt to the changing circumstances and focus on his primary goal of improving the team's performance.Despite the challenges, Gillespie remains optimistic about the future of Pakistan cricket. He believes that the team has the potential to achieve great things if they can create a positive and supportive environment. He urged all stakeholders, including former players, to work together to support the team and help them reach their full potential.

Pakistan's recent Test victory over England in the second Test was a testament to the team's resilience and adaptability. However, head coach Jason Gillespie downplayed his role in the triumph, emphasizing that the decisions made after the first Test defeat were largely out of his hands.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed a new selection committee, including former umpire Aleem Dar and Aaqib Javed, and excluded Gillespie and captain Shan Masood from the selection process. Gillespie acknowledged that he was now solely responsible for match-day strategy and player preparation.This shift in responsibilities contrasts with Gillespie's initial mandate when he took over the role earlier this year. He had previously expressed a desire to make long-term decisions for the team's development. However, the decision to field a spin-heavy attack and prepare a surface to assist them appears to contradict his earlier stance against short-termism.Gillespie declined to comment on the team's composition, stating that he was no longer involved in the selection process. He acknowledged the unusual nature of his situation, but emphasized his focus on protecting the players from external noise and fostering a positive environment.Despite the limited scope of his current role, Gillespie praised the players' resilience and ability to stay calm under pressure. He highlighted the team's ability to recover from early setbacks and the collapse triggered by Sajid Khan's bowling on Day 2.Gillespie emphasized the importance of communication and collaboration within the support staff. He expressed pride in the relationships built with the players and the team's ability to stay focused on the controllable aspects of the game.

Pakistan's Test team coach, Jason Gillespie, has garnered praise for his humble gesture after a training session ahead of the series-deciding third Test against England in Rawalpindi. A video circulating on social media shows Gillespie diligently picking up empty bottles and disposing of them in a dustbin.The incident occurred on Tuesday, as the team prepared for the crucial match. England had won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, while Pakistan had fought back to clinch victory in the second by 152 runs.Gillespie's actions have been lauded by fans and observers alike, who have commended his "grace" and professionalism. Some have speculated that the empty bottles were left behind by the Pakistan players, who may have exited the training area without cleaning up.Meanwhile, the ground staff at the Rawalpindi stadium are working tirelessly to dry up the wicket in order to assist Pakistan's spinners. Three heaters and fans are being used on either side of the track to remove moisture from the 22-yard strip.The second match of the series was played on the same track in Multan, which became worn-out and cracked after being used in the first Test. This assisted the Pakistan spinners, who took all 20 English wickets to fall in that match.The third Test is set to begin on Thursday in Rawalpindi, with both teams eager to secure victory and claim the series. Pakistan will be hoping to continue their winning momentum, while England will be determined to bounce back and level the series.

Pakistan's cricket team is facing a dilemma as they prepare for their upcoming Test series against England. The batters have reportedly requested coach Jason Gillespie to instruct groundsmen to prepare a flat pitch, while former cricketer Basit Ali claims Gillespie has rejected this request.Pakistan's batting unit has struggled in recent times, particularly in their 0-2 whitewash against Bangladesh at home. The batters believe a flat pitch would increase their chances of scoring runs against England's formidable bowling attack.However, Gillespie is reportedly not in favor of completely removing grass from the pitch. He believes a grassy surface would provide more assistance to Pakistan's bowlers, who have also been underperforming."I will give you an inside story. Jason Gillespie has handed a shut-up call to Pakistan batters. He wants the pitch to remain the same that has been prepared by the groundsman," Ali said on his YouTube channel."Pakistan batters wanted to cut off the grass to make it a flat pitch. The pitch curator and Gillespie want to play on the same pitch. I would be really happy if the match took place on a grassy surface and our bowlers took wickets," he added.England, who swept aside Pakistan 3-0 in their previous visit in 2022, will be looking to replicate their success. Veteran batsman Joe Root believes the team's previous experience in Pakistan will be beneficial."Yes, that series has helped us prepare for the coming matches and we have a plan on how to play here. But this is a new series and we have to play well again to win again in Pakistan," Root said."We learned a few things from that series, but (playing against) Pakistan at home is a challenge. Pakistan can definitely take advantage of their home conditions and we also have a couple of new young players eager to establish themselves. It should be an interesting series," he added.Pakistan's cricket team is under pressure to perform after their recent struggles. The Test series against England will be a crucial test for the team and their coach, Jason Gillespie.