Pakistan's Test coach Jason Gillespie has resigned from his position. Gillespie, who was appointed as the red-ball coach for a two-year term in April 2024, has quit his post due to the worsening relationships with the PCB. He will be replaced by Aaqib Javed on an interim basis. He will begin his stint with the two-match Test series against South Africa.
"The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Aqib Javed as interim red-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team following the resignation of red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie," the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
"Aqib’s first assignment as red-ball head-coach will be the two-match Test series against South Africa during the ongoing all-format tour. The first Test is scheduled at the SuperSport Park in Centurion from 26 to 30 December. The second Test will be played at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town from 3 to 7 January," the board added.
Gillespie was reportedly not happy with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not renewing the high-performance red-ball coach Tim Nielsen's contract and also not consulting him over the contract removal. Gillespie was removed from the Pakistan selection panel in October, for which he expressed his public discontent. "I am not a selector, I am a match-day strategist and as head coach, I am all about the players. My focus is on the players and all that, let selectors do their jobs. We just go out there and play the best possible cricket we can play," Gillespie had said.
Pakistan will be facing South Africa in a two-match Test series starting from the Boxing Day Test at Centurion from December 26 onwards. The two teams will then cross paths for the New Year's Test at Cape Town from January 3 onwards.
The series plays a crucial role for the Proteas, who are very much in contention for a spot in the World Test Championship final. They need only one win out of the two games to guarantee themselves of a spot in the finale.