Jason Gillespie Hits Back at Aaqib Javed: “We Haven’t Even Been There”

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Jason Gillespie says Aaqib Javed blamed him and Gary Kirsten for Pakistan’s current problems, despite neither being involved with the team for two years
• Gillespie criticises PCB’s selection strategy directly, pointing to Salman Ali Agha’s rapid fall from Test captain to being sent home within one series
• He says sacked players learned of their exclusion through family, friends and media, not through direct communication from the chairman of selectors

Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has directly rejected a claim he says Aaqib Javed made blaming him and Gary Kirsten for the current state of Pakistan cricket, speaking to Code Sports.

“Aaqib Javed came out recently and blamed Gary Kirsten and myself for everything that is going on,” Gillespie said. “Aaqib has been the chairman of selectors for the past two years. We haven’t even been there. Somehow, he claims it is our fault. Make sense out of that.”

Khelo Pakistan has not independently located the original comments from Aaqib Javed referenced by Gillespie. This report reflects Gillespie’s account as given to Code Sports.

Pakistan Cricket Is Broken. Aqib Javed Says He Can Fix It. Not Everyone Agrees.

“They Change Their Mind Like They Change Their Pants”

Gillespie’s criticism extended well beyond defending himself. He pointed directly to Salman Ali Agha’s situation as evidence of a selection process without any clear strategy.

“Salman Ali Agha goes from captaining the team in the first Test against England to being out of the team for the second Test and on the plane home before the third Test,” he said. “How does that work? It’s pretty clear they don’t have a selection strategy at all, particularly under Aaqib Javed. They change their mind like they change their pants.”

“I Feel for the Players”

Gillespie framed his criticism around the players caught in the middle of the instability, rather than attacking individuals for its own sake.

“I feel for the players, this is these guys’ livelihoods,” he said. “From the outside, it looks like they are playing with fear.”

He was especially critical of how players found out they had been dropped. “There is definitely no communication between Aaqib Javed, who is meant to be chairman of selectors, and the players,” Gillespie said. “The players who were sacked heard it through family and friends and the media that they had been sacked.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Jason Gillespie say about Aaqib Javed? Gillespie said Aaqib blamed him and Gary Kirsten for Pakistan cricket’s problems, despite neither having worked with the team for roughly two years.

What did Gillespie say about Salman Ali Agha’s exclusion? He pointed to Agha going from Test captain in the first match against England to being dropped and sent home before the third Test as evidence of an inconsistent selection strategy.

How did players find out they were dropped, according to Gillespie? Gillespie said sacked players learned of their exclusion through family, friends and media reports, not through direct communication from the chairman of selectors.