Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has sharply criticized Pakistan’s interim head coach Aaqib Javed, calling him a “clown” in response to remarks about the team’s struggles and Javed’s push to become the permanent coach for all formats.
Javed, speaking at a press conference after Pakistan’s early exit from the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, attributed the team’s underperformance to frequent changes in the coaching staff and selection committee. He argued that instability at the top had significantly impacted the team’s results.
“We have changed nearly 16 coaches and 26 selectors in the last two years or so,” Javed said. “If you apply that formula to any team in the world, they would be in the same situation. Until you get consistency from the top down, from the chairman to the rest, the team will not progress.”
Pakistan, the host nation for this year’s Champions Trophy, failed to make it past the group stage after losses to India and New Zealand, with their final match against Bangladesh being washed out.
Gillespie, who played 71 Tests and 97 ODIs for Australia, quickly dismissed Javed’s comments, calling them “hilarious.” Taking to social media platform Threads, the former pacer accused Javed of attempting to maneuver behind the scenes for the coaching role.
“It’s a bit rich of Aaqib Javed to blame ‘instability’ when he himself went behind the backs of Gary Kirsten and myself to take over the Pakistan team,” Gillespie wrote.
Pakistan cricket has faced a revolving door of coaching and selection appointments in recent years, leading to criticism and calls for a more structured, long-term approach to team management.
Javed, a former Test pacer, has previously coached Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has been vocal about his desire to take on the permanent role with the national team. However, his stint as interim coach has already faced scrutiny, especially after Pakistan’s disappointing Champions Trophy campaign.
