Former Pakistan red-ball coach Jason Gillespie has recently criticized Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his absence from a crucial team-building session held on September 23, 2024. This "Connection Camp," an initiative of then white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, aimed to improve communication, collaboration, and overall team performance. Gillespie's remarks highlight a perceived lack of commitment from the top PCB official, adding to the controversies surrounding Pakistan cricket.
Speaking on The Howie Games podcast, Gillespie recounted the effort he and Kirsten made to attend the camp. Gillespie flew in from Australia, while Kirsten traveled from South Africa. Their commitment stood in stark contrast to Naqvi, who, despite being based in Lahore, participated via Zoom instead of attending in person. Gillespie stated, "Gary came up with this great idea of a connection camp. Everyone in Pakistan cricket basically shared their experiences in that meeting. I flew in from Australia, Gary flew in from South Africa, the Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dialed in Zoom. He is based in Lahore, but he did not come, while Gary came in from Africa. We both felt that the Chairman could not even drive 20 minutes to come here - that was a bit unusual."
The "Connection Camp" was designed to foster a unified vision and mission for the national team. Key players such as Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, and Shan Masood were in attendance. PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer had previously described the camp as a timely and important step towards bringing players and management closer together, especially with a busy cricketing calendar ahead.
Gillespie's criticism raises questions about the dedication of the PCB's leadership and their understanding of team dynamics. His comments underscore a potential disconnect between the administration and the team's needs. The former Australian pacer's departure from his role as Pakistan's Test coach last year was reportedly influenced by the PCB's decision to remove high-performance coach Tim Nielsen. Gillespie felt "blindsided" by the decision, which, coupled with other issues, led him to question whether the PCB genuinely wanted him in the role.
This isn't the first time Gillespie has publicly addressed issues within Pakistan cricket. In April 2025, he confessed that his time with Pakistan had soured his love for coaching, expressing disillusionment with the behind-the-scenes decisions made by the team management. He even went as far as to call Aqib Javed, who took over as interim coach, a "clown" for allegedly undermining him and Kirsten. Gillespie later clarified that he is open to short-term coaching opportunities, particularly in T20 leagues, but full-time coaching is not currently on his agenda.
Gillespie's tenure as Pakistan's Test coach, though short-lived, was marked by highs and lows. He notably led the team to their first Test series win against England on home soil since 2005. He also stepped in as interim white-ball coach, guiding the team to their first ODI series victory in Australia in over two decades. Despite these achievements, Gillespie's overall experience seems to have been marred by a lack of communication and questionable decision-making at the administrative level.
While Gillespie has expressed disappointment, he remains optimistic about Pakistan's cricketing talent. He believes that with proper nurturing and development, the team has the potential to become a powerhouse. However, for that potential to be realized, it appears that significant changes may be needed within the PCB's leadership and organizational culture.
