Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s non-payment claims

Pakistan’s former head coach Jason Gillespie speaks during the press conference after the third Test match between Pakistan and English at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on October 23, 2024. (REUTERS)
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Updated 21 April 2025
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Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s non-payment claims

  • Jason Gillespie recently said PCB had not paid him his dues for his nine-month coaching stint
  • PCB says Gillespie “abruptly” left his position without giving a four-month notice period

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently rejected claims by former head coach Jason Gillespie that he had not been paid his dues, clarifying that the ex-Australian cricketer breached the terms of his contract and left his position “abruptly.” 

Former fast bowler Gillespie took up the coaching assignment in April 2024 but stepped down in December due to disagreements with the PCB. Since resigning from the role, Gillespie has been an outspoken critic of the PCB, criticizing the board for what he described was its short-sightedness and accusing current interim white-ball coach Aqib Javed of interfering in his job. 

When asked during an interview last week with sports website PakPassion.net about his relationship with the PCB, Gillespie wished the board well but said he was still waiting for it to pay him his dues for the coaching job.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board refutes claims made by a former head coach on the non-payment of his dues,” the PCB said in a statement on Sunday. “The PCB spokesman states that the former head coach abruptly left his position without giving a four month notice period, which was a clear breach of the contractual terms.”

The board said Gillespie’s coaching contract “explicitly mentioned” a notice period applicable to both parties, adding that the former coach was “fully aware of it.”

Earlier this month, Gillespie’s comments during an interview made headlines when he revealed that his time with the PCB had a negative impact on his passion for coaching cricket. 

“The Pakistan experience has soured my love for coaching, I’ll be honest,” Gillespie said. “I’ll get it back, I’m sure I will, but that was really a blow.”

The former fast bowler said he had been disappointed with how his coaching stint with Pakistan ended. 

“It’s had me question whether I want to coach full time again,” he said.

Pakistan cricket analysts and critics have slammed the PCB for appointing a plethora of coaches, selectors and captains over the past few years, blaming the increasing instability within the board as the main reason for the national cricket team’s recent dismal performances. 


Pakistan legend Akram hails ‘incredible’ Starc after Ashes heroics

Updated 06 December 2025
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Pakistan legend Akram hails ‘incredible’ Starc after Ashes heroics

  • Australia’s Mitchell Starc surpassed Akram’s tally of 414 test wickets during Brisbane match against England
  • Akram says despite being 35, Starc can “go on and on” due to his passion for cricket and fiery pace bowling

KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram believes even more is to come from Australia’s “incredible” veteran Ashes wrecking ball Mitchell Starc.

Akram was reacting to Starc surpassing his tally of 414 wickets during the Brisbane Test against England on Thursday, becoming the leading left-arm pace bowler of all time.

“Congratulations to Starc on passing my tally of wickets,” Akram told AFP, saying that the 35-year-old’s passion and commitment helped set him apart.

“Starc has shown a great amount of dedication and focus in these times of too much cricket, having T20 leagues with big money coming your way.

“He did play T20 leagues but then decided to play more Tests and left the shorter format because he wanted to be remembered as one of the best in the world in the history of the game.

“Ten years down the line, if anyone decides to have an all-time Test team, then Starc will be named in that team for sure.”

Despite trumping Akram, Starc described the Pakistan great as the “pinnacle.”

“Wasim’s still a far better bowler than I am,” Starc said on Thursday.

Akram dismissed the debate over who is the greatest.

“It is difficult to compare both of us because we are from different eras,” he said. “People say that I played on placid tracks and he played on bouncy Aussie tracks, so that was different.

“But nowadays batters have a different mindset and they play aggressive shots even on good balls, so that makes wicket-taking a more difficult art.”

Akram said he believed Starc’s passion could take him further.

“He is 35 and his pace is still there and passion remains at its peak. He has been incredible as a fast bowler and is enjoying fast bowling, so can go on and on.”