Jason Gillespie Archives

Grant Bradburn joins Jason Gillespie in Hyderabad coaching staff

Former Pakistan head coach Grant Bradburn has become the latest addition to the coaching setup of Hyderabad, one of the newest franchises introduced ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.

Bradburn will work as the fielding coach under newly-appointed head coach Jason Gillespie, as Hyderabad continue to build its coaching staff ahead of the historic 11th edition of the marquee league.

The franchise confirmed Bradburn’s appointment through the Kingsmen Cricket social media handle, sharing a graphic alongside an official statement.

“Leveling up every move. Hyderabad welcomes Grant Bradburn as Fielding Coach! From drills to practice, he brings world-class experience to every corner of the field,” the post read.

Hyderabad are one of the two new franchises added to the PSL roster ahead of season 11, with Sialkot Stallionz being the other new entrant.

The franchise is owned by Fawad Sarwar’s Kingsmen group and was secured through the PSL auction after the group placed the winning bid of Rs 1.75 billion ($6.25 million).

Bradburn brings significant experience to the role, having served Pakistan in multiple capacities in recent years.

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The former New Zealand cricketer was appointed head coach of the Pakistan men’s national team in 2023.

Before that, Bradburn also served as Pakistan’s fielding coach from 2018 to 2020, and later moved to the National Cricket Academy, where he worked on coach development.

He has also coached internationally, having previously worked as the head coach of Scotland’s men’s team.

READ: Australia name three debutants in Playing XI for first Pakistan T20I

Jason Gillespie appointed head coach of PSL’s new Hyderabad franchise

Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie has been officially named the head coach of the Hyderabad franchise ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, scheduled to begin on March 26.

Hyderabad is one of the two new franchises added to the PSL roster ahead of season 11, with Sialkot Stallionz being the other new entrant.

The Hyderabad franchise is owned by Fawad Sarwar’s Kingsmen group and was secured through the PSL auction with a winning bid of Rs 1.75 billion ($6.25 million).

The announcement for the head coach was made through the Kingsmen Cricket social media handle, where the franchise shared a graphic featuring Gillespie along with a statement confirming his appointment.

“Vision clear. Direction locked. Entering a New Era. Jason Gillespie takes charge as Head Coach of Hyderabad,” the post read.

Vision clear. Direction locked. Entering a #NewEra ⚡️

𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗲 takes charge as Head Coach of Hyderabad in #HBLPSL 🙌

Welcome to the family, Coach 🤝 pic.twitter.com/aLqSLF94gT

— Kingsmen Cricket (@KingsmenCricket) January 28, 2026

The 50-year-old has previously worked in Pakistan cricket and was appointed as head coach of the national Test side in April 2024.

However, his stint was short-lived as he resigned ahead of Pakistan’s two-match Test series in South Africa in December 2024, amid reports of differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and difficulties in aligning with the team management.

Notably, the Hyderabad management is yet to officially unveil its team name and logo for the tournament.

READ: Platinum category renewals announced ahead of PSL 11 player auction

Jason Gillespie comments on Mike Hesson’s appointment as Pakistan head coach

Former Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie has backed the appointment of Mike Hesson as the new white-ball head coach, calling it a “fantastic opportunity” and a “pure coaching challenge.”

Speaking to a local sports platform, Gillespie admitted that while Hesson’s appointment may have come as a surprise to many, it made sense from a professional point of view.

“There are always surprises in the world,” Gillespie remarked. “From personal experience, you do wonder sometimes, why make such a move? But working with Pakistan’s players is a brilliant opportunity for any coach.”

Jason Gillespie, who had a brief stint with the Pakistan Test side, said his own departure was due to well-documented reasons but showed complete understanding of Hesson’s decision to step in.

“There were reasons I moved on, and everyone knows that. But from a coaching lens, it’s a chance to test yourself, to grow players, and help a team evolve. I totally get why Mike took the job,” he added.

The former Aussie pacer had nothing but praise for Pakistan’s national cricketers, calling them coachable, eager, and respectful.

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“The players were a joy to work with. They listen, they learn, and they’re passionate about getting better,” he further stated.

“That’s exactly what pulled me to the role in the first place — the chance to work with such raw talent and genuinely good human beings.”

Jason Gillespie also revealed that while he hasn’t recently been in touch with Hesson, he’s known the New Zealander for a long time and has faith in what he can bring to the Pakistan setup.

“I haven’t spoken to Mike lately, but we go back to my time coaching in Zimbabwe,” he stated.

“He’s a top guy — thoughtful, experienced, and exactly what Pakistan cricket needs. If he’s given the space to work without interference, he can do great things.”

READ: Pakistan to face India on THIS date in ICC Women’s ODI World Cup

PCB responds to former coach’s claim of unpaid dues

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has responded to the claims made by former head coach Jason Gillespie about the non-payment of his dues.

In a recent interview, Gillespie claimed that he was still awaiting payment for his nine-month stint with the PCB.

“Without going into the details, obviously still waiting on some remuneration from work that has been done. So just navigate through that in due course,” he said.

The former coach of the Pakistan cricket team was hoping that issue would be resolved in the near future.

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“Admittedly, that has been a little bit disappointing but look, hopefully that can get sorted sooner rather than later,” he added.

The PCB rejected Jason Gillespie’s claims, stating that he left the position without serving his notice period.

“The former head coach abruptly left his position without giving a four month notice period, which was a clear breach of the contractual terms,” a spokesperson for the PCB said in a statement.

“The coaching contract explicitly mentioned a notice period applicable to both parties, and the coach was fully aware of it,” it added.

It is worth mentioning that the former Australian pacer was appointed as Pakistan’s Test coach in April last year on a two-year contract.

However, he resigned from the post in December the same year, less than eight months into the job, just before the Pakistan cricket team’s Test series against South Africa.

Months after resigning from the post, Jason Gillespie accused Aqib Javed of campaigning for a coaching role across all formats.

“This is hilarious. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and I behind the scenes campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown,” Gillespie wrote in a social media post.

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Former Pakistan head coach compares Saim Ayub to Saeed Anwar

Jason Gillespie, former Australian fast bowler and Pakistan head coach, has recently heaped high praise on young batter Saim Ayub, comparing him to legendary Saeed Anwar.

During a recent fan interaction on social media, Gillespie didn’t hold back his admiration for Pakistan’s rising opening batter.

“Saeed Anwar was one of the greatest players. I see some of him in Saim Ayub,” he wrote on Instagram.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

Anwar was considered one of the finest top-order batters of his time. For an entire generation, he was the gold standard of left-handed elegance and top-order class, with over 13,000 international runs.

On the other hand, the rise of Saim Ayub over the last 18 months has been anything but ordinary. He has displayed his outstanding talent in the international circuit, particularly in the white-ball formats, combining calmness with flair, and classic shots with modern intent.

However, a freak ankle injury during the second Test against South Africa in 2025, while trying to stop a boundary, had him sidelined for months.

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He slipped, twisted his ankle, and ended up with a serious fracture. His absence during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was clearly felt, both in terms of team balance and spark at the top.

Ayub went through rehab and medical treatment in England, eventually passing the PCB’s fitness protocols before making his way back.

And he didn’t waste time making a statement, smashing a classy fifty for Peshawar Zalmi against Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

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Jason Gillespie makes shocking decision about coaching after ‘sour’ Pakistan stint

Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie has expressed his views on full-time coaching aspirations after his short stint with Pakistan cricket team.

Gillespie, who was appointed head coach of Pakistan’s Test team in April 2024, resigned in December.

He cited decisions made by the team management as the main reason for his departure.

While speaking to Wisden, Gillespie highlighted the challenges during his coaching stint with the Pakistan team, stating that he is no longer interested in coaching international teams.

“The Pakistan experience has soured my love for coaching, I’ll be honest. Even if Australia comes calling—no, I’m not interested, ” he said.

The former coach, however, remarked that he would be open to short-term coaching opportunities, particularly franchise cricket.

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“I’m open to coaching in the leagues and some short-term coaching or as a consultant. But as for a full-time coaching role, right now, it’s not on my agenda.”

“I’ve been coaching full time for the best part of 15 years, I just think that it’s time I did something else, ” Gillespie concluded.

It is worth mentioning that Aqib Javed was made interim red-ball coach after the former Australian pacer stepped down from the role.

The former Pakistan pacer serves as head coach in red and white-ball formats.

Last month, Jason Gillespie slammed Aqib Javed for allegedly campaigning for a coaching role across all formats.

“This is hilarious. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and I behind the scenes campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown,” Gillespie wrote in a social media post.

READ: PSL 10 Trophy ‘Luminara’ reaches Quetta

Jason Gillespie slams Sunil Gavaskar’s ‘nonsense’ comment on Pakistan cricket team

Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has strongly criticized Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar for his recent remarks suggesting that even a second or third-string Indian team could defeat the Green Shirts.

Speaking after Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where they suffered defeats at the hands of New Zealand and India, Gavaskar had claimed that India’s B or C team could outplay Pakistan in an ODI match.

Gillespie, however, was quick to dismiss this statement, calling it “absolute nonsense.” He went on to state that Pakistan’s team, if managed and supported properly, has the potential to defeat any opponent, including India.

“I don’t buy this rhetoric. I saw some comments from Sunil Gavaskar about the Indian B team or Indian C team beating Pakistan’s top team. That’s nonsense. Absolute nonsense,” Jason Gillespie said in an interview with the PakPassion podcast.

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The former Australian cricketer emphasized the importance of selecting the right players and allowing them to develop their skills over time.

“If Pakistan pick and stick with the right players and give them time to shine, time to learn, and develop their games, they can beat anyone. I have got no doubt about that,” he added.

Jason Gillespie also expressed concern over the impatience within Pakistan cricket, urging the selectors and management to show more faith in their players.

“They are high in talent. You just have to pick the right kind of talent. You have to support them and be patient with them. There’s far too much impatience, in my opinion, in Pakistan cricket,” he further stated.

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Jason Gillespie surprised over THESE players’ exclusion from Champions Trophy squad

Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has questioned the absence of young talents Irfan Khan Niazi and Sufiyan Muqeem from the Green Shirts’ squad for the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

In a recent interview, Gillespie expressed his disbelief over Niazi’s omission, particularly highlighting his explosive batting and exceptional fielding.

“Irfan Khan Niazi is one of the hardest hitters and cleanest strikers of the ball in Pakistan. He is also the best fielder in the country. I cannot believe that he was not picked for the Champions Trophy,” Gillespie remarked.

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The former Australian pacer also heaped praise on left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, emphasizing his potential and temperament.

“Sufiyan Muqeem is a very talented cricketer who, if given the right opportunities, can be a great servant for Pakistan cricket,” he added.

Jason Gillespie further stated that selecting only one specialist spinner and leaving Sufiyan out of the squad was a blunder from Pakistan selectors.

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“Already in his short international career, he has shown that he has the skills and temperament to play at the highest level,” he said.

“For the selectors and team management to leave him out and go into the Champions Trophy with just one proper spinner was a glaring mistake.”

Pakistan entered the eight-team tournament as defending champions, however, they crashed out in the group stage after consecutive defeats against New Zealand and India.

READ: Ricky Ponting reveals why Pakistan failed to reach Champions Trophy semi-finals

Jason Gillespie opens up on his experience of coaching Babar Azam

Former Australia pace bowler Jason Gillespie recently shared his experience of working with star batter Babar Azam during his tenure as the red-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team.

Gillespie was appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in April 2024 for a two-year period. However, last week he stepped down from the role unexpectedly ahead of the much-awaited Test series against South Africa.

After his sudden departure, he made shocking revelations about his time with the Green Shirts during an interview with Australian media. However, he heaped high praise on Babar, despite the right-handed batter’s below-par form during Gillespie’s tenure.

“Babar is a very driven individual. He works so hard on his game; he’s an elite player. A fantastic player, one of the best players I’ve been fortunate enough to work with,” he stated.

Jason Gillespie highlighted Babar’s intense dedication during practice sessions, noting that he consistently pushes himself to meet high training standards.

“I really enjoyed working with him. He sets high standards, not only for himself but also for his teammates,” he added.

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“It’s almost like he expects the same standards of everyone that he sets himself. He trains incredibly hard and keeps himself incredibly fit, robust, and strong.

“He works tirelessly on his game, whether it be his batting, his fielding, or even his offices [off-spin bowling] in case he’s called up to bowl. He’s a great cricket tragic and a great team man who works incredibly hard.”

When questioned about the circumstances surrounding Babar’s removal from the Test team during his tenure,

Gillespie clarified that he played no role in the decision to drop Babar Azam after the first Test against England. He emphasized that this decision was entirely made by the selection committee without his input.

“The decision was made by the selectors [to drop him], I had been removed from that process, and the decision was made to not play him [against England],” he concluded.

It’s worth noting that Jason Gillespie started his tenure as Pakistan head coach with the home Test series defeat against Bangladesh. However, in his second assignment, Pakistan bounced back and defeated England 2-1.

READ: South Africa captain to miss first ODI against Pakistan, replacement named

Jason Gillespie reveals reasons behind his resignation as Pakistan head coach

Former Australia pace bowler Jason Gillespie recently revealed the reasons behind his shocking resignation as the red-ball head coach of Pakistan men’s cricket team.

Numerous reports circulated in the media about the reasons for Gillespie’s sudden exit, but he revealed the actual reasons in a recent interview with Australian media.

“When I went into the job, I want to make that very clear, I knew that Pakistan had been through a cycle of a number of coaches in a short period of time,” said Gillespie.

“I put my case forward and explained how I felt I could help. You want to create an environment where players are relaxed but focused. I felt that the Test side were very much on track doing that.”

However, the PCB’s decision to unceremoniously part ways with Tim Nielsen, the High-Performance Coach, without any prior communication with Gillespie, led to him stepping down from his role.

“The straw that broke the camel’s back was, as a head coach, you like to have clear communication with your employer, and I was completely and utterly blindsided by a decision to not have High-Performance coach Tim Nielsen,” the former pacer explained.

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“He was told that his services were no longer required, and I had absolutely zero communication from anyone about that.

“This situation, along with past incidents, made me question whether I was truly needed. Not informing the head coach about such a major decision compelled me to think this way.”

It’s worth noting that Gillespie’s tenure saw several changes in his responsibilities. Earlier, he was part of the selection committee along with captain Shan Masood.

However, after a disastrous start to his tenure, the PCB removed the head coach and captain from the selection committee after the appointment of Aleem Dar, Aqib Javed and Azhar Ali as selectors.

“What I felt was my opportunity to help Pakistan cricket was diminished by the reduced role, in essence, basically hitting catches, and that was about it on the morning of a game,” Gillespie further stated.

“You want to be able to have clear communication with all stakeholders, with selectors, for instance, knowing what the team is as head coach well before the game, before that, at least the day before the game, so you can help plan and prepare.

“Those sorts of things proved to be quite difficult and made it untenable.”

READ: PCB reacts to Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim’s retirement