Jason Gillespie Resigns as Pakistan Test Head Coach

Jason Gillespie has resigned from his position as head coach of Pakistan’s Test team. The former Australian fast bowler had been appointed to the role in April on a two-year contract. The 49-year-old’s departure was announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), external, which also named Aqib Javed as the interim red-ball head coach. Gary Kirsten, a former South Africa opener, who was appointed as the white-ball coach concurrently with Gillespie, resigned in October. Gillespie’s tenure began with a series loss against Bangladesh. Following a significant defeat by England in the initial Test of their series, he was subsequently removed from Pakistan’s selection panel. Despite this, Pakistan ultimately secured the series with a 2-1 victory. Gillespie had previously informed Sky Sports that he experienced “frustrations from time to time” and that “it wasn’t what I signed up for, I’ll be completely honest.” Subsequently, he led a white-ball tour to Australia in Kirsten’s absence, where the team won the one-day series but lost the T20 series. Aqib Javed later guided the white-ball squad on a tour of Zimbabwe. The former Pakistan paceman has now been requested to lead the red-ball team, with a Test series in South Africa scheduled to commence this month. Pakistan is currently in South Africa for a three-match T20 series, which will be followed by three one-day international games, preceding the inaugural Test match in Centurion on 26 December.