Jason Gillespie has always been a straight shooter, both on the field as a cricketer and now in the dugout as Pakistan’s red-ball head coach. But after Pakistan’s recent shake-up in the selection process, it looks like he’s been handed a more streamlined role—and he’s perfectly fine with it.
In a press conference ahead of the third Test against England, Gillespie made it clear: he’s now all about the matchday strategy. Gone are the days when the head coach and captain had a say in team selection.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has switched things up after that crushing defeat in the first Test against England, taking the reins away from the coach and captain.
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The New Selection Panel
So, what exactly changed? After that tough loss, the PCB brought in a fresh five-member selection committee. Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, and Hasan Cheema now hold the power, with former pacer Aaqib Javed leading the charge.
This new panel means that neither the coach nor the captain gets to cast a vote when it comes to picking the squad. In simple terms, Gillespie’s job now starts after the squad is picked.
He explained it himself: “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. I’m now just the coach for matchday strategy.”
For someone like Gillespie, who’s always been hands-on, this change could have been tricky. But instead, he seems to be taking it in stride, focusing on what he does best—getting his players ready for game day.
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All About the Players
In his usual straightforward manner, Gillespie emphasized that his focus is now entirely on the players. When asked about team composition, he didn’t shy away from pointing out that it’s no longer his area of concern.
“I am not a selector; I am a matchday strategist as head coach, and I’m all about the players. My focus is on them.”
Gillespie’s reduced role in selection could also mean a more defined focus on game strategy and player development, which could benefit Pakistan in the long run.
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