Jason Gillespie criticises PCB selector Aaqib Javed over squad overhaul

Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie criticised Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Aaqib Javed after the board's major mid-series squad overhaul following Pakistan's defeats in the first two Tests against England.

Pakistan replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, while also sending seven players home after losing the first two Tests at Headingley and Lord's. Gillespie, who coached Pakistan for eight months in 2024 and guided the team to a 2-1 Test series win over England, said it was painful to watch the current situation unfold.

"I feel for the players, this is these guys livelihoods," Gillespie told The Australian newspaper. "From the outside it looks like they are playing with fear," the former Australian fast bowler said. "Salman Ali Agha goes from captaining the team in the first Test against England to out of the team for the second Test and on the plane home before the third Test."

"How does that work?" The former Australia fast bowler blamed Aaqib Javed for the lack of consistency in Pakistan's selection decisions. "It's pretty clear they don't have a selection strategy at all, particularly under Aaqib Javed. They change their mind like they change their pants -- daily," Gillespie said.

He also responded to Javed's recent comments, in which the selector blamed Gillespie and former Pakistan white-ball coach Gary Kirsten for the team's problems. "Aaqib Javed came out recently and blamed (former Pakistan white-ball coach) Gary Kirsten and myself for everything that is going on. "Aaqib has been chairman of selectors for the past two years. We haven't even been there. Somehow he claims it is our fault. Make sense out of that. I think Javed needs to look at himself in the mirror."

Gillespie also questioned how the PCB informed players about the squad changes. "There is definitely no communication between Aaqib Javed, who is meant to be chairman of selectors, and the players."

"The players who were sacked heard it through family and friends and the media they had been sacked. How disrespectful is that?" Reports earlier this week said several Pakistan players found out they had been dropped after friends and family sent them the PCB's statement on social media, with no direct communication from the team management, captain or coach.

Pakistan suffered an innings and 103-run defeat in the first Test at Headingley before losing the second Test at Lord's by 194 runs, handing England a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Following those defeats, the PCB recalled wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, spinner Ali Usman, pacer Khurram Shahzad, all-rounder Aamir Jamal and batter Awais Zafar. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were also replaced, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke taking charge of the team for the third Test in Birmingham, starting on September 9.