In our latest exclusive interview conducted by Saj, former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie shares his thoughts on the new era of Pakistan cricket. The former Pakistan head coach weighs in on Mike Hesson’s appointment as white-ball coach, whether the PCB has cleared his unpaid dues, recent T20I selections, and much more.

By Saj Sadiq (June 15th, 2025)

Summary of topics discussed:

Financial Dispute with PCB: Gillespie mentions an ongoing issue regarding money owed to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from his previous coaching stint.

Current Endeavors: He shares that he is currently hosting a supporters' tour to the West Indies for the Australia vs. West Indies series through his business, Gillespie Sports, which focuses on travel and events.

Mike Hesson's Appointment as Pakistan White Ball Head Coach:

• Gillespie wasn't surprised by Mike Hesson taking the role, highlighting the attractive opportunity to work with highly coachable, respectful, and talented Pakistani players who are eager to improve.
• He notes that his own reasons for leaving the Pakistan coaching role were "well documented" but emphasizes the pure challenge and opportunity it presents for a coach.
• Gillespie confirms he had no communication with Hesson before his appointment but speaks highly of Hesson as a "great get" for Pakistan cricket.
• His primary advice for Hesson is to enjoy the experience and to be "allowed to crack on and do his job with minimal interference".
• He identifies the main challenge Hesson will face as "interference from people that shouldn't be interfering". He stresses that Hesson should be trusted and given the opportunity to do his job effectively.
• He applauds the PCB for allowing Hesson a major say in team selection, as seen in the squad for the Bangladesh series, considering the results will ultimately be attributed to him.

Salman Ali Agha's Leadership:

• Gillespie speaks highly of Salman Ali Agha, recognizing him as a leader who exudes positivity and always seeks to drive the game forward.
• He admires Agha's ability to find positives even after bad games, helping the team stay on track.
• Gillespie believes that Agha, along with Mike Hesson, is bringing clarity to players' roles and expectations, which will lead to success.
• While acknowledging Agha's strong start as T20I captain and talk of him leading in other formats, Gillespie emphasizes that Pakistan is fortunate to have Shan Masood as a "great leader" in Test cricket, suggesting both can lead different formats.

Pakistan's White Ball Top Order and Player Patience:

• Gillespie is excited by the new, aggressive top order in T20Is, featuring players like Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Saim Ayub, and Sahibzada Farhan.
• He specifically praises Saim Ayub as "one of the most talented cricketers on the planet" and highlights Mohammad Haris as the energetic character the team needs.
• Gillespie advocates for patience with young players, citing Saim Ayub as an example of patience paying off.
• He firmly believes that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, despite not currently being in the T20I side, are "two wonderful wonderful players" who can adapt their game to fulfill roles required by the coach and captain. He views the current situation as a "challenge" thrown to all players to embrace the new aggressive approach.

Shaheen Shah Afridi's Form and Future:

• Gillespie commends Shaheen Shah Afridi's incredible work ethic and high work rate.
• Despite a recent "up and down" period, he asserts that Afridi has a "huge future" in all formats, noting his robust nature as a fast bowler who always gives 100%.
• World Test Championship Final: As an Australian, Gillespie believes Australia "deservedly start favorites" against South Africa, citing their strong performance in the cycle and their experience as telling factors.
• Glenn Maxwell's Retirement: He describes Maxwell as an "absolutely brilliant player" who puts "butts on seats". Gillespie highlights Maxwell's extraordinary 201 not out against Afghanistan as an "absolutely superb" and "mind-boggling incredible" innings.

Watch the full interview at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwPfwsUGhM8