‘They change their minds like pants’: Former Pakistan coach rips chief selector Aaqib Javed over chaos in England | Cricket news
Former Pakistan national team coach Jason Gillespie The national team chief criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Aqib Javed After the board’s major overhaul of the middle-order squad following Pakistan’s defeat in the first two Tests against England.Pakistan replaced the head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Omar Gul, while also sending seven players home after losing the first two Tests at Headingley and Lord’s.Gillespie, who coached Pakistan for eight months in 2024 and led the team to a 2-1 Test series win over England, said it was painful to watch the current situation unfold.“I feel for the players, this is their livelihood,” Gillespie told The Australian.“From the outside it looks like they are playing with fear,” the former Australian fast bowler said.“Salman Ali Agha goes from leading the team in the first Test against England to being out of the team for the second Test and on board ahead of the third Test.”“How does this work?”The former Australian fast bowler blamed Aqib Javed for inconsistency in Pakistan’s selection decisions.“They clearly have no selection strategy at all, especially under Aqib Javid. They change their minds like they change their pants – daily,” Gillespie said.He also responded to Javed’s recent comments, in which the selector blamed Gillespie and former Pakistani white-ball coach Gary Kirsten for the team’s woes.“Aaqib Javed recently came out and blamed (former Pakistani white-ball coach) Gary Kirsten and me for everything that happened.“Aqib has been the chairman of selectors for the last two years. We weren’t even there. Somehow he claims it’s our fault. Makes sense of that. “I think Javed needs to look at himself in the mirror.”Gillespie also questioned how the PCB informs players of team changes.“There is certainly no contact between Aaqib Javed, who is supposed to be the chairman of the selection committee, and the players.”“The players who were sacked heard it through their family, friends and the media. How disrespectful is that?”Reports earlier this week said that several Pakistani players found out about their exclusion after friends and family sent them a team board statement on social media, without any direct communication from the team management, captain or coach.Pakistan suffered an innings and 103-run defeat in the first Test at Headingley before losing the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs, giving England a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.After those defeats, PCB recalled wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, spinner Ali Usman, Bakar Khurram Shehzad, Aamer Jamal and batsman Owais Zafar.Sarfaraz Ahmed and Omar Gul have also been replaced, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke taking charge of the team for the third Test in Birmingham, starting on September 9.
