Jason Gillespie’s dislike for the PCB has become a well-known issue in cricketing circles, and the former red-ball coach isn’t ready to bury the hatchet yet, it seems. In what appears to be yet another swipe at the PCB, the former Australia pacer and now ex-Pakistan Test coach has opened up about his disappointment regarding PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s absence from a critical team-building session, known as the “connection camp.”
Speaking on The Howie Games podcast, Jason Gillespie candidly recalled the lengths both he and head coach Gary Kirsten went to in order to attend the camp, which was set up by the South African—only to be met with what he described as an “unusual” lack of interest from the top administrator.
“Gary came up with this great idea of a connection camp. Everyone in Pakistan cricket basically shared their experiences in that meeting. I flew in from Australia, Gary flew in from South Africa, the Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dialed in Zoom. He is based in Lahore, but he did not come, while Gary came in from Africa. We both felt that the Chairman could not even drive 20 minutes to come here — that was a bit unusual.” Jason Gillespie said.
Jason Gillespie’s latest statement adds to the growing perception that the Australian’s stint with the PCB ended on a less-than-amicable note. Though his departure from the Test head coach role was officially described as a mutual decision at the time, the constant back and forth between the board and the coach paints a less than ideal picture.
The connection camp was likely aimed at bringing players, coaches, and support staff closer to create a unified environment ahead of a crucial cricketing calendar. However, the perceived lack of investment from the PCB hierarchy — particularly the Chairman — may have signaled to Jason Gillespie and the rest of the coaching staff that institutional backing for such efforts was limited.
Both Kirsten and Jason Gillespie soon departed their roles without any significant contributions to the team.
As the PCB moves forward with a reformed outlook under Mike Hesson, it would be wise to take note of previous shortcomings to establish a more unified team for future assignments. As for Jason Gillespie, one can only hope that his experience with the PCB does not deter him from undertaking future jobs.