Former Pakistan Test head coach Jason Gillespie has launched a scathing attack on PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, calling the practice of the board chairman picking the national team's captain "nonsense."
In an explosive interview with The Telegraph, Gillespie stated that Pakistan needs strong leadership from experienced cricketing people rather than administrative interference in sports decisions.
The former Australian pacer, who served Pakistan in Tests for a brief period in 2024, emphasized that the board should appoint qualified coaches and give them the full authority to choose the team's leadership.
“They need strong leadership from strong cricket people. Get the right coaches in place and let them decide on what the leadership is going to be. You get chairman and people at the board sitting at desks picking the captain, it’s nonsense," Gillespie said.
“Get the right coach in, allow him time to let the dust settle, and then allow him to pick the captain and go from there and rebuild Pakistan cricket and take it forward, because at the moment it’s going nowhere," he added.
Beyond targeting Naqvi, Gillespie directed heavy criticism toward the PCB's chief selector and Director of High Performance, Aaqib Javed, labeling him as the root of the mess in Pakistan cricket.
He claimed that Pakistan cricket will continue to go backwards as long as Aaqib is there, shielded by his close relationship with Naqvi.
“I was totally disrespected and undermined (by Pakistan) and I direct that towards Aaqib Javed. At our first meeting he came in with bravado, bluff, and bluster, wanting to show he was the man in charge. Aaqib had the support of the chairman and the board and that’s why he felt he was untouchable," Gillespie said.
“He was not a collaborative chairman of selectors. He doesn’t take on other people’s ideas, thoughts, or opinions. It was his way or the highway. He just does what he wants because he is allowed to (because of) his close relationship with the chairman. That’s not an environment that I wanted to work in or be a part of. I don’t know many self-respecting people who would want to work in that environment," he added.
