Jason Gillespie reveals reasons behind resignation as Pakistan’s red-ball coach

Former Pakistan red-ball team coach Jason Gillespie has opened up about his reasons for stepping down from the role, citing dissatisfaction over being kept in the dark regarding key decisions, particularly concerning High-Performance Coach Tim Nielsen.  

In an interview with Australian media, Gillespie expressed his disappointment, stating, "I was completely unaware of the decision not to retain Tim Nielsen. After reflecting on this and a few past incidents, I began to question whether my role was truly valued," he said.   

He elaborated that the lack of communication about such a critical decision made him reconsider his position. "Not being informed about an important decision like this left me wondering if I was needed in the setup at all," Gillespie said.  

The former Australian fast bowler added, "My role seemed reduced to just conducting catching practice on match mornings. The purpose behind my position as head coach was gradually fading away," he added.   

Gillespie emphasized the importance of coordination between the head coach and selectors, as well as timely communication for team planning. "As a head coach, I must stay fully connected with the selectors and management. At the very least, I need to be informed about the squad a day before it is finalized," he remarked.  

He further revealed that the lack of proper communication made his job increasingly difficult. "After the Tim Nielsen matter, it became evident that my work environment had become challenging," Gillespie remarked.  

Sharing another instance of poor communication, Gillespie said, "Following the first Test against England, I found out about the formation of a new selection committee through a group text message. I was never consulted about this significant change, nor was I involved in discussions regarding player selections."  

He also disclosed that the decision to drop captain Babar Azam was made by the new selection committee, and he was not informed about it beforehand.