'Pakistan is playing on fear', Gillespie suggests Aqib Javed should look in the mirror

Former Pakistan cricket coach Jason Gillespie has opened up about the recent turmoil in Pakistan cricket. The former Australian pacer has strongly criticized Pakistan's selection committee chairman Aqib Javed, claiming that the national team's cricketers are currently 'playing with fear'. Gillespie even suggested that Aqib should look at his own decisions in the mirror instead of blaming others.

After losing the first two Tests by a huge margin on the England tour, the controversy over the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision has increased. Midway through the tour, the Test team's head coach Sarfraz Ahmed and pace bowling coach Umar Gul were removed. At the same time, seven cricketers were dropped from the squad.

Gillespie is disappointed with Pakistan's decision. Under this Australian coach, who served as the national team coach for about eight months in 2024, Pakistan won the three-match Test series against England 2-1.

Gillespie told 'The Australian', 'I feel bad for the players. That's their job. From the outside, it seems like they are playing with fear.’

Gillespie also raised questions about the recent team selection process. His biggest surprise revolves around Salman Ali Agha. Salman, who led Pakistan in the first Test against England, was dropped in the next Test and sent back home before the third Test.

Gillespie’s question is, ‘How did Salman Ali Agha, who led the team against England in the first Test, get out of the team in the second Test and fly back home before the third Test? How is this possible?’

Gillespie directly blamed Aqib Javed for Pakistan’s current situation. In his words, ‘It is clear that they have no strategy for selecting the team under Aqib Javed. They change their decisions every day—the way they change their clothes every day.’

A few days ago, Aqib blamed Gillespie and former coach Gary Kirsten for Pakistan’s bad situation. Gillespie also responded to that statement.

He said, ‘Aqib Javed has blamed Gary Kirsten and me for everything that is happening in Pakistan recently. But Aqib has been the chairman of the selection committee for two years. We weren't there. I think he should look at himself in the mirror.'

Gillespie is not only angry about the team selection, but also about the way the team management communicates with the cricketers. He alleged that the dropped cricketers did not learn about their exclusion directly from the team management, but through family, friends or the media.

In Gillespie's words, 'The players have no contact with Aqib Javed. However, as the chairman of the selection committee, he is supposed to be in contact with the players. The players who have been dropped have heard from their family, friends and the media that they have been dropped. How disrespectful!'

Pakistan's performance in the first two Tests against England was also disappointing. After losing the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, they lost the second Test at Lord's by 194 runs. The third and final Test of the series will begin at Edgbaston on September 9.

Along with Gillespie, former captain Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik and former coach Mickey Arthur have also raised questions about Pakistan's recent situation. Arthur called the whole incident "absolutely ridiculous".

Meanwhile, New Zealand's Mike Hesson and Australia's Ashley Noffke have been given the coaching responsibilities of the Pakistan team for the rest of the tour of England. Hesson is already serving as the head coach of Pakistan's white-ball team.