Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie is disappointed with legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar's comments on the lack of competition in the India versus Pakistan matches. Gavaskar had recently claimed that a second or third-string Indian team can pose a threat to Pakistan's current One-Day team following Mohammad Rizwan-led side's comprehensive defeat in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash in Dubai.
"I don't buy this rhetoric. I saw some comments from Sunil Gavaskar about the Indian B team or Indian C team beating Pakistan's top team. That's nonsense. Absolute nonsense. If Pakistan pick and stick with the right players and give them time to shine, time to learn, and develop their games, they can beat anyone. I have got no doubt about that," Gillespie said in a video shared by Pakistan journalist Saj Sadiq.
"They are high in talent. You just have to pick the right kind of talent. You have to support them and be patient with them. There's far too much impatience, in my opinion, in Pakistan cricket.
"If the PCB, as a board, wants to change and get the right results, they need to get the right people, the right selection panel, and give players time to flourish and do their job. If you are hiring a new coach, give him the opportunity to do something meaningful, give him the time. Otherwise, the results are going to be the same," the former Australia pacer added.
Gillespie calls Pakistan head coach a 'clown'
Gillespie stepped down as Pakistan's head coach in the red-ball format in December 2024. Earlier in 2024, Gary Kirsten was sacked as white-ball coach following the early exit from T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies. Recently, Pakistan's interim white-ball coach, Aaqib Javed had blamed the lack of continuity in coaching staff and administration as a major reason for the team's bad run across formats.
"We changed 16 coaches in the last two-and-a-half years and 26 selectors. If you do this to any team in the world, their performance would be the same," he said in a press conference where Pakistan's white-ball squads for New Zealand tour were announced.
Responding to Javed's comments, Gillespie took to social media and said, "This is hilarious. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and me behind the scenes, campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown."
Javed has been asked to continue as the interim head coach until Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) searches for a new coach.