Former Pakistan coach criticise PCB's way of functioning, explains why he quit his job

Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie recently resigned from his role as Pakistan's Test head coach, citing a lack of communication and clarity from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as the primary reasons behind his decision.

Gillespie, who stepped down from his position just weeks ago, expressed his frustration with the PCB's handling of his coaching responsibilities and how it impacted his ability to perform his duties effectively.

Gillespie, who took on the role of head coach with clear expectations, found himself blindsided by the board's sudden decision to discontinue the high-performance coach role, a position he had recommended Tim Nielsen for. This decision, along with other miscommunications, led to mounting dissatisfaction.

Speaking to ABC Sport, he recalled how he felt "completely and utterly blindsided" by the sudden changes, especially when the PCB introduced a new selection panel without involving him and failed to inform him about team lineups until the day before matches.

"There were certainly challenges. I went into the job eyes wide open... but the straw that broke the camel's back was the decision to not have a high-performance coach," Gillespie said. His frustration grew when Nielsen, who had proven effective in his role, was dismissed without any communication with Gillespie, which further eroded his confidence in the PCB's intentions.

Despite these issues, Gillespie had built strong relationships with players, including Test captain Shan Masood, and felt the team was heading in the right direction. His efforts in leading Pakistan to a 2-1 series win over England, despite losing the first match, highlighted his ability as a coach. However, the lack of transparency from the PCB made him question whether the board truly wanted him to continue as head coach.

He explained, "Tim Nielsen was told that his services were no longer required, and I had absolutely zero communication from anyone about that. After a number of other things, I thought, 'Well, I'm not really sure if they actually want me to do this job or not'."

Gillespie's decision to resign, even though his contract was set to run until 2026, reflects the importance of clear communication and respect between a coach and the governing body. He summed up his experience by noting that he felt reduced to performing menial tasks, like catching balls, instead of contributing meaningfully to team decisions and strategies.

In the end, the lack of communication from the PCB about his role left Gillespie with no choice but to step down, marking an untimely end to his tenure as Pakistan's Test coach.