Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who unexpectedly resigned as head coach of Pakistan towards the end of the previous year, has criticized the current interim coach, Aaqib Javed, referring to him as "a clown" in response to Javed's remarks regarding excessive changes in management. During a press conference on Tuesday, where Pakistan announced Salman Ali Agha as the new T20I captain, interim coach and national selector Javed expressed concerns about the inconsistency within Pakistan cricket.

“To advance Pakistan cricket, it is essential to maintain consistency and continuity in our policies, starting from the PCB Chairman down to the players,” he stated during the media briefing.

“Since last year, we have witnessed numerous changes in captains, coaches, selectors, and the board Chairman. This situation is far from ideal for the team and inevitably impacts their performance.”

“A coach can only do so much from the sidelines; ultimately, the players must take responsibility for their game and strive to be consistent performers,” he added.

In light of Javed's statements, Gillespie accused the former Pakistan pacer of "undermining" both himself and Gary Kirsten while allegedly maneuvering to secure the coaching position for himself.

“This is quite amusing. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and me behind the scenes while campaigning to become the coach across all formats. He is a clown,” Gillespie remarked.

Pakistan's too many coaches

Since the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup, which signified the onset of Pakistan's decline, the national team has undergone three coaching changes. Mickey Arthur was succeeded by Mohammad Hafeez, who was subsequently dismissed prior to the T20 World Cup. Pakistan then appointed Gary Kirsten, the coach who led South Africa to victory in the 2011 World Cup, along with former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie.

However, Kirsten's time with the team was cut short without him having coached a single ODI, as his departure was prompted by disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding player selections. Gillespie faced a similar outcome, being relieved of his duties less than a year after taking on the role of Test team coach.

"I understand that the international schedule is quite demanding these days, but if the focus is predominantly on T20 cricket and there is a lack of participation in four-day domestic matches, players will not be adequately prepared for Tests or ODIs, nor will they enhance their skills," Javed remarked.

"Regrettably, many of our players are not dedicating time away from T20 cricket and are not willing to make the necessary sacrifices to engage in four-day games to refine their abilities." Aaqib also noted that Pakistan's disappointing performance was partly attributable to the fast bowlers' inability to meet expectations during the Champions Trophy.

"The two venues where reverse swing is most prevalent are Karachi and Dubai, yet our bowlers failed to capitalize on this. I have spoken with Haris Rauf and Shaheen, urging them to return to honing their skills," he stated.

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