Former Australia cricketer and ex-Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has strongly refuted claims made by selector Aaqib Javed, accusing him of lying about Gillespie’s involvement in Pakistan’s controversial pitch strategy during the Test series against England.
The controversy, which had seemingly died down, resurfaced after Javed made remarks on a podcast, alleging that Gillespie and former Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten had complicated the selection process by resisting input from other members of the team management.
Gillespie has now responded to those allegations, denying them outright and offering his own account of the events. Speaking on the Fast Bowling Cartel Podcast, the former fast bowler said he did not agree with Javed’s decision to prepare turning tracks for the second and third Tests against England, particularly the use of industrial fans to dry the pitch in Rawalpindi.
The strategy was adopted after Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat in the first Test, where England posted more than 600 runs.
“I asked him, ‘What was your plan after the first Test? We lost the first Test against England. No, you did not ask Aaqib. You waited in and you said, ‘This is what we are doing,’” Gillespie said.
Gillespie claimed that the team management was informed of the decision rather than consulted, adding that he questioned the logic of reusing the same surface for another Test.
“We are changing the team. We are playing on the same surface that we just played a five-day Test on in four days. So it was going to be a day 10 or 11 surface. And I asked them, ‘Why are we doing that?’” he said.
The former coach further revealed that he was particularly opposed to the suggestion of sprinkling sand on the pitch, describing it as an unnecessary and misguided move.
“What I had an issue with in the pitch was the suggestion to sprinkle it with sand as well. Not only did we have a 10 or 11-day pitch, but we also just sprinkled it with sand. So give me a spell, Aaqib, you muppet,” Gillespie added.
Gillespie also stated that, before Javed and the new selectors came into the setup, the coaching staff had been instructed to select only those players who met the required fitness-testing criteria.
The fresh exchange has once again highlighted the tensions within Pakistan cricket’s management structure, with Gillespie’s comments directly contradicting Javed’s version of events and reopening debate over the team’s handling of the England Test series.
