PCB begins quest for new head coach
Aaqib Javed failed to deliver as Pak team head coach after a string of defeats at home and abroad. PHOTO: AFP
Aqib Javed's tenure as the interim head coach was due to end with the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 but was given an extension - PCB
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday, has officially begun the search for a new permanent head coach by posting a formal advertisement on its website.
According to the details, the cricket board is seeking a Level III qualified coach with a minimum of 10 years experience of coaching national or domestic level cricket teams.
The development comes after Javed, according to the sources, remains no longer interested in the head coach role.
For the unversed, the former fast bowler was appointed as the interim white-ball head coach role in November last year after Gary Kirsten relinquished the role just ahead of the team's tour to Australia.
He was promoted to the all-format interim head coach the following month as Jason Gillespie had also stepped down due to his differences with the cricket board.
Javed's tenure as the interim head coach was due to end with the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 but was given an extension for the national team's white-ball tour of New Zealand, which concluded earlier this month.
However, the PCB has now decided against giving another extension to the former pacer.
But despite his potential exit as the interim head coach, Javed may still find a place in Pakistan's cricketing setup as he is interested in becoming the Director of the High-Performance Centre, for which the cricket board has also issued an advertisement.
Notably, the position of the Director of the High-Performance Centre was vacated after Nadeem Khan's resignation.
According to sources, the cricket board is dealing with limited resources from the former national cricketers and is instead tilted towards bringing in a foreign coach.
Despite past trends of hiring prominent figures, sources claimed that the PCB is unlikely to pursue high-profile names this time around.
PCB rejects Jason Gillespie's claims of unpaid dues
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected claims made by Jason Gillespie regarding non-payment of dues, calling them baseless and misleading.
Responding to inquiries from a local media outlet, a PCB spokesperson clarified that the former Australian Test cricketer had backed out of his commitment to join the Pakistan national team without prior notice. As a result, the board handed over coaching responsibilities to Aaqib Javed in South Africa.
A few days ago, Gillespie's agent sent an email to PCB's HR department, requesting clearance of the alleged outstanding payments.
However, the PCB has firmly stated that the matter is being misrepresented. "As per the contract, if PCB had terminated Jason Gillespie's services, we would have been liable to pay him four months' salary. But if he resigned, he was required to give prior notice and pay four months' salary to the board," said the spokesperson.
"Since Gillespie himself withdrew from the role, he is the one who owes PCB four months' salary. Therefore, his claim of unpaid dues is incorrect."
It is worth mentioning that in a recent interview with a local social media platform, Gillespie expressed disappointment over the situation, stating that the PCB had yet to settle his dues. He added that the situation was frustrating and hoped for a quick resolution.
BD seal WC spot in ICC qualifiers
Bangladesh joined hosts Pakistan in qualifying for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in India despite West Indies' sensational victory over Thailand here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Bangladesh, who won their first three matches of the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier, suffered back-to-back blows to their campaign as they were beaten by West Indies and Pakistan, respectively.
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