The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that Jason Gillespie will continue as the Test coach for the upcoming two-match series against South Africa. Although his contract extends until 2026, the board has not confirmed his involvement beyond this tour.
In recent days, local media reports suggested that Gillespie's tenure with Pakistan might be coming to an end, with Aaqib Javed being considered as a potential replacement. Aaqib is likely to take over as the all-format coach. Following Gary Kirsten's resignation last month, the white-ball coaching position remains vacant, and Aaqib is the leading candidate to fill that role ahead of Pakistan's T20I and ODI tour of Zimbabwe starting next Sunday.
Despite the speculation, the PCB has denied that Gillespie's job is under threat. "As announced previously, Jason Gillespie will continue to coach the Pakistan side for the two red-ball matches against South Africa," a statement from the PCB on X said.
However, the PCB has not confirmed whether Gillespie will remain head coach for any series beyond these Tests. Pakistan is scheduled to host a two-Test home series against the West Indies immediately following the South Africa tour. Efforts to obtain clarification from the PCB about Gillespie's future engagements have yet to yield a response.
Earlier this week, the PCB approached Gillespie about the possibility of him taking over as white-ball coach until the conclusion of the Champions Trophy. The offer, however, did not include an increase in compensation proportional to the additional responsibilities, leading Gillespie to decline. Consequently, the PCB began exploring local options to replace Kirsten.
They initially considered promoting Azhar Mahmood or appointing Saqlain Mushtaq, who served as coach during the 2021-22 season. Neither candidate received sufficient support within the PCB's advisory circles, which led to Aaqib Javed being offered the position. It is believed he will be asked to serve until the end of the Champions Trophy, after which the PCB will reassess the coaching situation.
Gillespie's next immediate assignment is the third T20I against Australia, a series he took over as interim coach. The Test series against South Africa, the only other engagement for which he is officially confirmed, is set to begin on December 26.
While Gillespie appears to have retained his position for now, his relationship with the PCB has been less than smooth. Just three Tests into his tenure, Aaqib Javed was hired as part of a revamped selection committee, significantly reducing Gillespie's authority. He was removed from the selection committee and lost influence over player selections for matches and series.
Expressing his frustration with these changes, Gillespie admitted during a press conference in the home series against England that he felt reduced to merely a matchday strategist. In an interview with Sky the following day, he stated that the role was not what he had initially agreed to.
He reflected on his initial discussions when joining Pakistan cricket, noting that he was told there was a long-term plan with an emphasis on clear communication. Gillespie made this a focal point but became frustrated when things did not progress as he had anticipated, openly acknowledging that the situation did not align with his original expectations.