ISLAMABAD: Jason Gillespie says he was undermined before quitting as Pakistan test cricket coach last December and has used a social media post to describe interim head coach Aaqib Javed as a “clown.”
Gillespie was a fast bowler who played 71 tests and 97 one-day internationals for Australia from 1996-2006 before going into coaching.
He was appointed last April for two years as Pakistan’s test coach but quit before a series in South Africa less than eight months later after an unsuccessful start.
He was the second foreigner to leave Pakistan’s program in less than two months after South African Gary Kirsten stepped down as limited-overs coach in October.
Aaqib, Pakistan’s national selector and interim head coach, acknowledged this week after Pakistan’s failure to reach the knockout stage of the Champions Trophy — following losses to New Zealand and India — that the chopping and changing hasn’t helped the national team.
“We have changed nearly 16 coaches and 26 selectors in the last two years or so,” he was quoted as saying at a news conference to announce the latest overhaul of Pakistan’s limited-overs squads. “You put that formula on any team in the world, I think they will also be in the same situation.
“Until you get consistency right from the top down to the bottom, from the chairman down, then your team will not progress.”
Gillespie responded to those comments by posting an Instagram story late Wednesday describing the analysis as “hilarious.”
“Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and I behind the scenes campaigning to be the coach in all formats,” Gillespie posted. “He is a clown.”
Aaqib, a former Pakistan cricket international, had been acting as interim coach of the limited-overs squads following Kirsten’s departure when he took over the test squad from Gillespie.
Aaqib’s contract initially ran until the Champions Trophy but he is set to continue in the role while the Pakistan Cricket Board searches for a full-time replacement.
Jason Gillespie says he was undermined before quitting as Pakistan coach
https://arab.news/bnbc6
Jason Gillespie says he was undermined before quitting as Pakistan coach
- Former Australian fast bowler accuses interim coach Aaqib Javed of working against him
- Gillespie was appointed last April for two years as Pakistan’s coach but quit eight months later
Sri Lanka seal gritty T20 win over Pakistan to level series
- In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka scored 160 runs before choking Pakistan to 146-8
- The series saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game
Dambulla: Sri Lanka eked out a hard fought 14-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20 at rain-hit Dambulla on Sunday, easing their batting jitters and squaring the three-match series 1-1.
The series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup with Pakistan set to play all their matches in Sri Lanka due to political tensions with nuclear-armed neighbors India, saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game.
“We were a bit worried about our batting and I’m glad we addressed that today,” said Wanindu Hasaranga, who walked away with both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honors.
“The bowlers did a good job too. The ball was wet and it wasn’t easy. We tried to bowl wide and slow and asked them to take risks.”
Hasaranga took four wickets in the game and in the process completed 150 wickets in T20Is.
In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka muscled their way to a competitive 160 before choking Pakistan to 146-8.
Having been bowled out inside 20 overs in the series opener, Sri Lanka needed a statement with the bat and duly ticked every box after being put in.
The top order laid the platform and the middle order applied the finishing touches.
Wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis made hay under the Power Play, blasting 30 off 16 balls while Dhananjaya de Silva (22 off 15) and Charith Asalanka (21 off 13) kept the scoreboard ticking.
Skipper Dasun Shanaka then swung the momentum decisively, clubbing 34 off just nine deliveries, peppered with five towering sixes.
The sixth-wicket stand between Shanaka and Janith Liyanage produced 52 runs in just 15 balls and proved the turning point, shifting the game firmly Sri Lanka’s way.
Pakistan came out swinging in reply, racing to 50 in just 19 balls with captain Salman Agha hammering 45 off 12 balls, including five fours and three sixes.
But once the field spread, Sri Lanka tightened the screws, applied the choke and forced the asking rate to spiral.
“It was a good game of cricket,” Agha said.
“We conceded too many runs, but our batting effort was good. Unfortunately, we fell short. We know we are going to play all our World Cup games in Sri Lanka and it’s important that we played in similar conditions,” he added.
