Aussie cricket legend gets a shock new job after blasting his bosses – and now he’ll be competing AGAINST his own nation
- Jason Gillespie appointed Pakistan’s new coach
- Will oversee Australia’s ODI and T20 tour in November
- Gillespie recently stated that he wanted more clarity about his role
- Worked closely with South African great Gary Kirsten
Australian cricket legend Jason Gillespie has been appointed coach of Pakistan ahead of their ODI and T20 tour down under, which starts on November 4.
The move has raised eyebrows in cricket circles after Gillespie, 49, recently stated that he was frustrated ‘from time to time’ at what he felt was a lack of clarity in his role as ‘matchday strategist’ with the Shaheens.
Gillespie, who took 259 Test wickets in a decorated career before turning his attention to coaching, replaces Gary Kirsten, with the former South African batsman remaining on the hot seat for just six months.
The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the development on Monday.
“Jason Gillespie will coach the Pakistan men’s cricket team during next month’s white-ball tour of Australia,” a statement said.
“Gary Kirsten has submitted his resignation and it has been accepted.”
Gillespie was also a key figure behind the scenes in the impressive Men In Green’s Test series win against England on home soil.
A fast paceman in his heyday – who also once scored an unbeaten Test double hundred against Bangladesh – Gillespie retired from first-class cricket in 2008.
Australian cricket legend Jason Gillespie has been appointed coach of Pakistan ahead of their ODI and T20 tour down under, which starts on November 4.
Gillespie, who scored 259 Test wickets in a decorated career before turning his attention to coaching, replaces Gary Kirsten, with the South African staying on the hot seat for just six months
He subsequently coached Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, Yorkshire and Sussex in England, Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash and the Redbacks in South Australia.
The Australia tour will see three ODI matches take place in Melbourne (November 4), Adelaide (November 8) and Perth (November 10) before three T20 matches take place in Brisbane (November 14), Sydney (November 16) and Hobart (November). 18).
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain for the tour on Australian soil, with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan bowler Tanvir Ahmed has opened up about Kirsten’s departure.
“Gary has left and soon he (Jason Gillespie) will leave too, just wait.
‘In our system we have no respect, but others do. Our system is filled with corruption,” Tanvir wrote on X.
Cricket Pakistan also reported that superstar batsman Babar Azam was the main reason behind Kirsten’s decision to move on.
It is understood that the pair had a disagreement over the availability of the star batsman.