Gillespie exposes rot in Pakistan cricket: They still owe me thousands of dollars

Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has launched another scathing attack on the PCB, claiming he is still owed thousands of dollars. Gillespie has also questioned Aaqib Javed's role in Pakistan cricket and the team's continued decline across formats.

In Short

• Jason Gillespie was sacked as Pakistan's Test coach in December 2024
• Gillespie claims that he is still owed thousands of dollars by the PCB
• Pakistan have launched an internal enquiry amid poor performance

Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has once again hit out at the Pakistan Cricket Board, accusing the governing body of undermining him during his brief stint in charge and questioning the direction in which Pakistan cricket has been heading.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Gillespie said it breaks his heart to see the state of Pakistan cricket and insisted he would continue to speak out against those in power, despite the PCB still owing him thousands of dollars in unpaid remuneration.

Gillespie was sacked as Pakistan's Test head coach in December 2024, less than a year after taking up the role. Nearly two years later, he says he is still waiting for money owed to him by the board.

"The PCB still owes me thousands of dollars, but I was never going to be a yes man," Gillespie said.

"I wasn't going to compromise on my principles. I never have throughout my career and I certainly wasn't going to change."

The former cricketer claimed that he was sacked from his role for speaking his mind, something that he has always done throughout his cricketing career. Gillespie said that he could have stayed quiet and received his salary, but that would have been a disservice to the character and reputation that he had built through the years.

PAKISTAN'S TERRIBLE DOWNFALL

Gillespie's latest comments come at a particularly difficult time for Pakistan cricket. The PCB has recently launched an internal enquiry amid a terrible collapse in the 3-match Test series against England. The Pakistan side lost back-to-back Test matches in the series, prompting the board to make wholesale changes to their squad and team management.

Gillespie argued that the problems are not simply about what happens on the field. The Australian believes the dysfunction within Pakistan cricket also extends to the way the team is run, with his own experience leaving him deeply disillusioned.

"I was totally disrespected and undermined, and I direct that towards Aaqib Javed," Gillespie said.

"The whole experience just deflated me and put me off coaching.

"It affected me mentally, doubting myself and left me thinking whether I still wanted to be involved in the sport."

GILLESPIE'S FALLING OUT WITH AAQIB JAVED

Gillespie said he initially took the Pakistan job believing he had been brought in as part of an attempt to revive the country's fast-bowling culture.

"When I came on board, they wanted to bring back fast bowling. This is what was sold to me when I took on the role," he said.

The plan, according to Gillespie, was to prepare pitches that offered greater bounce and carry and create an environment in which Pakistan's fast bowlers could thrive.

"I was on board and thought: 'This is going to be really cool,'" he said.

But Gillespie believes the appointment of former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed as a selector fundamentally changed his position within the setup.

"The appointment of Javed fundamentally altered the landscape. From that moment, my relationship with Pakistan cricket completely changed," he said.

"Aaqib came in and took over. It appeared to me that he was in charge of absolutely everything."

Gillespie said his responsibilities were gradually stripped away. Having initially been involved in managing the Test team, players and staff and having a say in selection, he found himself increasingly removed from key decisions.

"I went from looking after the Test side, managing that and looking after the players and the staff and having a role in selection to then absolutely no role in anything," he said.

The Australian's relationship with the PCB eventually deteriorated to the point where he left his position, but his frustration with Javed has remained.

'AAQIB HAS KEPT HIS JOB'

Speaking on a separate podcast, Gillespie also took aim at Javed's continued influence within Pakistan cricket despite the fact that the team has been on a freefall in international cricket.

"Aaqib is still chairman of selectors. He's kept his job. He's had a crack at Gary Kirsten and I, blaming us for where Pakistan cricket is where it is," Gillespie said.

"Gary and I haven't even been there for two years."

The former coach argued that Javed, rather than his predecessors, should also be judged on Pakistan's performances during his time in charge.

"Yet, he has been the chairman of selectors for two years and he's claimed as well that Pakistan's performances have improved," Gillespie said.

"Well, no, Aaqib, I'm sorry they haven't. You've actually gone down in the rankings in all three formats since you took over."

Gillespie's latest criticism adds another layer to the scrutiny around Pakistan cricket. The board is now conducting an internal enquiry as it attempts to understand why the team has struggled on international tours.

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