NEW DELHI: Pakistan red-ball coach Jason Gillespie verified on Wednesday that the PCB had revoked his authority in selection matters, contradicting the promise of autonomy he was given when he assumed control of the team.
A Pakistan Cricket Board official informed Gillespie and Test captain Shan Masood of the decision following the first Test against England at Multan, which the hosts lost by a substantial margin of an innings and 47 runs.As a result, both individuals will no longer have input in selection policies.
“I’m now just the coach for match day strategy. So, I keep out of things now and just focus on the players and getting them ready for cricket,” Gillispie said in a media conference.
A source from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed that both Gillespie and Masood are scheduled to meet with board officials following the third Test against England, which is set to begin on Thursday.
“They (Gillespie and Masood) apparently have decided to keep quiet for now but will most probably have a discussion about the matter with the PCB Chairman after the series,” the source said.
He did not dismiss the possibility of Gillespie reconsidering his contract with the PCB upon returning to Australia after the series, which is currently tied at 1-1.
“Gillespie and white ball head coach, Gary Kirsten were brought in with the assurance that they would have complete say in every matter related to the team including selection of squads and playing eleven. But that has now changed at least for Gillispie,” the source added.
“The PCB came in after that (first) Test match. It was decided that a new selection panel would come in, and they would be making decisions. I wasn’t involved in the decision-making,” Gillespie confirmed to the media.
The former Australian pacer emphasized that his primary focus is now on the players, making it clear that he intends to leave selection matters to the newly appointed committee.
“Look, it’s not for me to talk about now. I am not a selector. I am a match day strategist as head coach, and I’m all about the players. My focus is on them.
“I will let the selectors do their job, and we will just go out there and play the best cricket we can possibly play,” he said.
The newly revamped selection committee now features former umpire Aleem Dar and ex-players Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, and Hassan Cheema. This committee is responsible for selecting squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia and Zimbabwe.
Additionally, they have been granted authority to influence pitch preparation for Test matches, marking a significant shift in their role within the Pakistan cricket framework.
