A month to the day after it was confirmed former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie would depart South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers, the Pakistan Cricket Board have announced him the new head coach of their red ball set up.
Gillespie spent nine years in the South Australian system predominantly with the Strikers before also taking over the state team in 2020-21., and his exit came as a blow for both the Redbacks and Strikers.
Pakistan have confirmed the now veteran head coach has been signed on a two-year deal to run Pakistan's Test set up, while Gary Kirsten will take over as the white ball coach.
Azhar Mahmood will be the lead assistant coach across all three formats.
The move makes Pakistan the latest country to break up their coaching structure, with England using the same model.
“I am grateful to the PCB for their faith in my abilities and giving me the honour of coaching one of the most highly-regarded and talented cricket teams in the traditional format of the sport. Leading the Pakistan cricket team is a big achievement for any coach, given its rich legacy and passionate fan base," Gillespie said in a statement confirming his appointment.
“I love Test cricket and being able to focus on that is something I like very much. I also love the fact that there is so much talent in Pakistan. I like to think that I can help in some way to grow and develop the players. I want to win Tests – that is why I am taking this role. I love winning and I know we have got the skill to make that happen.
“The ICC World Test Championship is the ultimate in the Test format. I understand this cycle is likely to prove too great a task as we would need to win a lot of matches in a short space of time to have any chance of making the final, but aspiring to be in that final, and to winning it, has to be a medium- to long-term goal for us.
“Ultimately, it is all about playing the style of cricket we want to play, one that helps us win matches, excites the public and puts smiles on the faces of everyone connected with Pakistan cricket.
“Within Pakistan we have a number of high-quality fast bowlers and being able to utilise them will be a key part of any success we enjoy. But we have quality in all departments – pace, spin, batting and keeping. We have all bases covered. It is exciting to know we have that talent and I am looking forward to working with such talented players.
“I understand there will be expectation and that comes with the role. All I can do is to take it in my stride and I would not have taken on the job if I did not think I could deal with it.”
Gillespie coached the Adelaide Strikers over nine campaigns in Australia, including guiding the side to their first championship in BBL|07.
The former 71-Test bowler will take over the Pakistan Test team ahead of their next commitment, a pair of World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh in August, before hosting England and travelling to South Africa before the end of the calendar year.
