Pakistan cricket is once again mired in controversy following its early exit from the Champions Trophy. The fallout has led to widespread criticism, with players, coaches, and officials all facing scrutiny.
However, the most explosive remarks came from former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie, who took to Instagram to criticize his successor, Aaqib Javed, accusing him of maneuvering behind the scenes to secure a coaching role in all formats.
Gillespie and Gary Kirsten were appointed as Pakistan’s Test and white-ball coaches, respectively, in April 2024. However, both unexpectedly resigned within a year under unclear circumstances.
After Pakistan’s winless Champions Trophy campaign, Aaqib defended the team’s performance, stating, “We changed 16 coaches in the last two-and-a-half years and 26 selectors. If you do this to any team in the world, their performance would be the same.”
Gillespie responded strongly, writing, “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.”
Mickey Arthur’s Verdict on PCB’s Crisis
Mickey Arthur, who coached Pakistan between 2016 and 2019, was not surprised by the turmoil, echoing Gillespie’s frustration. He pointed to longstanding issues within Pakistan cricket, remarking, “I love this quote to be brutally honest. Jason Gillespie is a wonderful coach, wonderful man. Pakistan cricket just continues to shoot itself in the foot. It is its worst enemy.”
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Arthur lamented Pakistan’s failure to capitalize on its wealth of cricketing talent. He added, “There are so many good players; they’ve got the resources now; there’s so much young talent. They have incredible skill. And yet it’s still so chaotic. It’s really disappointing to see. I thought when they signed Gillespie and Kirsten, they had gone down exactly the right route, and they had got some really good players. Because ultimately, it’s the players that lose out.”
Internal Politics Hurting Pakistan Cricket
Arthur further criticized the lack of stability in Pakistan cricket, attributing the team’s struggles to frequent leadership changes and behind-the-scenes politics. Arthur stated, “They had got some really good coaches who could take them forward. But then that machine that works in Pakistan just keeps undermining and agendas are driven in the media. It’s a jungle out there, and I feel desperately sorry for Gary and Jason. There’s no doubt in my mind that they were undermined because it’s to the detriment of the players and ultimately to the detriment of Pakistan cricket.”
