Jason Gillespie urges former cricketers to avoid undue criticism of Pakistan team

Pakistan's red-ball format head coach, Jason Gillespie, has called on former cricketers to be more mindful of their public remarks, warning that undue criticism can harm the morale of current players. 

In a recent interview at Sky Sports, Gillespie emphasized that comments made by former players on TV shows and YouTube channels have a notable impact on the national squad.

"I'm very protective of players and very protective of staff I work with and just want to make sure that the environment that we're trying to create is a safe space for everyone and if that gets eroded then that can lead to a bit of frustration," Gillespie said.

He urged ex-players to be cautious when sharing their opinions, particularly on social media platforms, noting how closely today's players follow such feedback.

"A lot of former players have their own space on social media - YouTube, whatever, and they're paid to have an opinion. One thing that I have noticed here is that the players notice everything and if they get some positive feedback from former players they idolized as kids, that goes a long way when they get some positive reinforcement. But it can have the opposite effect too if there's a lot of criticism by those former players," he said.

The former Australian legend also voiced his displeasure regarding his diminishing role within the Pakistan setup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently removed both him and Test captain Shan Masood from the selection committee, limiting their influence over key decisions like team selection and pitch preparation.

"I think there's always frustration from time to time. For me, when I came on board with Pakistan cricket, I was told there was a long-term plan, and we need to make sure our communication's spot on. I made that a real focus and so you can get frustrated if those things aren't done how you would like," he concluded.

It is worth noting that Pakistan is currently locked in a three-match Test series against England, with the series tied 1-1. The decisive Test is underway in Rawalpindi, where both teams are fully prepared and determined to clinch the series by securing a victory in the final match.