Jason Gillespie says Pakistan head coach stint soured coaching passion
Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast, Gillespie opened up about how his time in Pakistan reshaped his outlook on coaching after nearly 15 years in the profession.
'Right now, I'm not sure I'm interested in coaching full-time,' Gillespie said. 'Even if Australia comes calling—no, I'm not interested.'
The former Australian fast bowler was appointed red-ball head coach of Pakistan in April 2024 but left in December following a series of internal disputes and communication issues with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
He also briefly led the white-ball squad as interim coach following Gary Kirsten's exit and oversaw a rare ODI series win in Australia.
Despite the on-field success, Gillespie described his time with the team as deeply frustrating, blaming internal politics and fractured leadership dynamics.
In a blunt assessment, he singled out his successor, Aqib Javed, for undermining his position. 'He was a clown,' Gillespie said. 'The internal politics and lack of cohesion made the job untenable.'
Gillespie said the experience had a lasting effect on his view of the profession. 'The Pakistan experience has soured my love for coaching, I'll be honest. It really disappointed me how that all ended. It's made me question whether I want to coach full-time again.'
While ruling out a return to full-time coaching, Gillespie said he remains open to short-term roles, particularly in franchise leagues or as a consultant.
'I'm open to coaching in the leagues and doing some short-term work or consultancy,' he said. 'But the grind of full-time coaching—it's just not on my agenda right now.'
Gillespie's remarks come at a time when Pakistan cricket continues to grapple with leadership instability and structural issues within its coaching setup.
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