Photo Credit: LinkedIn Profile Photo of Aqib Javed, Twitter Profile Photo of @Jason_Gillespie,
The turmoil within Pakistan cricket deepened this week as former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie launched a scathing attack on Aaqib Javed, calling him a “clown” after the Pakistan interim coach’s remarks about instability within the national team’s management.
Javed, who currently serves as Pakistan’s interim head coach and national selector, had expressed his frustrations over the continuous changes in leadership. “You want to take Pakistan cricket forward, then you need consistency and continuity in policies—starting from the PCB Chairman down to the players,” Javed stated at a press conference. He criticized the frequent reshuffling of coaches, captains, selectors, and board chairmen since last year, adding, “This is never an ideal situation for the team, and it does affect their performances.”
However, Gillespie wasted no time in responding to Javed’s comments. “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 remarked, accusing Javed of scheming to take over as head coach while also sabotaging both him and Gary Kirsten. The verbal altercation has brought further attention to the ongoing crisis in Pakistan cricket, where the instability in coaching and leadership has affected the team’s performance.
Javed, in his address, also pointed to accountability among players, noting that coaches alone cannot fix the problems within Pakistan cricket. “I think a coach can only do so much from the outside, but he can’t go and play. Some of our players need to start thinking about their game and how to be more consistent performers,” he said. His comments reflect a broader concern over the team’s performance, especially following their disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup campaign.
Javed’s frustration with Pakistan’s cricketing system comes amid a revolving door of coaches. After the 2023 World Cup debacle, Mickey Arthur was replaced by Mohammad Hafeez, who was soon sacked before the T20 World Cup. Gary Kirsten, who was brought in as coach, left without coaching a single ODI due to disagreements over player selections. Gillespie, who joined alongside Kirsten, was also dismissed within a year of his appointment as the Test coach. This ongoing upheaval has left Pakistan cricket in a state of constant flux, further hindering any long-term success.
Additionally, Javed expressed concerns over Pakistan’s over-reliance on T20 cricket, which he believes is damaging the players’ ability to perform in longer formats. “If you are playing 70 percent T20 cricket and not participating in four-day domestic matches, you can never be prepared for Tests or ODIs,” he stated. He added that many players were not making the necessary sacrifices to improve their red-ball skills, which he sees as essential for the team’s success in formats beyond T20s.
The instability in Pakistan cricket was further exposed during the Champions Trophy, where the fast bowlers struggled to deliver, particularly with reverse swing, a skill traditionally associated with Pakistan’s pacers. “The two places you get the most reverse swing are Karachi and Dubai, and unfortunately, this was something our bowlers couldn’t do,” Javed pointed out. He mentioned that he had spoken with bowlers like Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, advising them to go back and work on their skills to improve.
While Javed calls for continuity and accountability, his own role in the current instability has come under scrutiny. Gillespie’s accusations have added fuel to an already raging fire, with many now questioning the influence and motives of those within Pakistan’s cricket management. With leadership changes, coaching conflicts, and declining performances, the crisis in Pakistan cricket shows no signs of abating.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
