LAHORE: Pakistan red-ball coach Jason Gillespie has refused to travel to South Africa ahead of the national team’s two-match Test series, sources said on Thursday.
According to details, Gillespie, who was supposed to arrive in South Africa yesterday, decided otherwise after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided not to renew the contract of red-ball assistant coach Tim Nielsen.
However, the former Australian pacer cited personal reasons to the board over his refusal to travel to South Africa.
Notably, Gillespie was set to oversee Pakistan’s exclusive red-ball training camp in South Africa, with the aim of acclimating Test players to playing conditions in the African country.
However, his refusal has left a void in Pakistan’s red-ball coaching setup, but sources close to the development have suggested that interim white-ball coach Aqib Javed is being considered to succeed Gillespie in the role.
Gillespie’s discomfort with the PCB stems from recent administrative changes. In October, he was removed from the Test team jury, with his role reduced to “match day strategist”.
Since the conclusion of Pakistan’s white-ball series in Australia, where he briefly served as interim coach following Gary Kirsten’s resignation, communication between the board and the former Australian cricketer has been minimal.
Adding to Gillespie’s frustration is his belief in Nielsen’s strong relationship with the players, who were denied a contract extension, in line with the PCB’s broader trend of prioritizing local coaching staff.
The board had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the limited time foreign coaches spent in Pakistan – a criticism that also preceded Kirsten’s resignation in October.
However, Jason Gillespie has consistently defended his adherence to contractual obligations relating to his presence in Pakistan.
His current contract runs until mid-2026, and his departure – whether by resignation or dismissal – could have significant financial implications for the PCB.
Sohail Imran is a senior reporter at Geo News.
