Look in the mirror instead of Blaming Others: Jason Gillespie slams Aaqib Javed
Look in the mirror instead of Blaming Others: Jason Gillespie slams Aaqib Javed
By Nawaz Gohar ; Pakistan cricket’s ongoing crisis has worsened following back-to-back heavy defeats against England and a series of widespread squad reshuffles.
Former red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie launched a scathing attack on chief selector Aaqib Javed, stating that instead of deflecting blame onto others, Javed needs to “look in the mirror.”
Speaking to The Australian, Gillespie expressed serious concerns regarding recent selection choices and the sudden exclusion of key players from the national setup.
Questioning Aaqib Javed’s selection methodology, Gillespie remarked: “It is blatantly clear that there is no selection strategy, particularly under Aaqib Javed. The decisions change on a daily basis.”
Gillespie added that Javed had recently tried to hold him and Gary Kirsten responsible for the current state of Pakistan cricket, despite Javed serving as chief selector for the past two years while neither Kirsten nor Gillespie were in those roles at the time.
“So somehow he’s claiming that what’s happening now is down to us. It defies logic. I think Aaqib Javed needs to take a good look in the mirror first,” Gillespie said.
Highlighting a breakdown in communication between the selection panel and the squad, Gillespie revealed that dropped players were never informed directly by the selectors. Instead, they found out about their exclusion through family, friends, and media reports.
“What could be more disrespectful than that?” Gillespie added.
These direct allegations have placed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection policies, internal communication, and player management under intense scrutiny once again.
The public fallout comes amidst a disastrous Test campaign in England, where Pakistan suffered an innings-and-103-run defeat in the first Test, followed by a 194-run loss in the second. The third and final Test begins on September 9 at Edgbaston.
The ongoing turmoil and sudden team management changes have drawn sharp criticism from former captains Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, as well as several ex-coaches. Former head coach Mickey Arthur described the current setup as “completely ridiculous,” while New Zealand’s Mike Hesson and Australia’s Ashley Noffke have stepped in to manage team duties for the remainder of the English tour.
