Tag: Jason Gillespie

LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen head coach Jason Gillespie has provided a key update on the availability of star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and emerging talent Maaz Sadaqat for the upcoming games of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Speaking during a media interaction on Saturday, Gillespie confirmed that Maxwell is expected to join the squad later in the tournament, although his exact arrival date remains uncertain.

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“We have to wait. He is locked in for the back half of the tournament,” Gillespie said. “The exact date of his arrival, we’re not sure yet. We’re waiting for more information, but hopefully he will join us soon.”

Moreover, Gillespie sounded optimistic about the fitness of young all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat, who missed the opening match against Lahore Qalandars due to injury concerns.

“Maaz has started training today. He’s an important part of our squad,” he said.

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“We’re hopeful he will be available for selection tomorrow [for the match against Quetta Gladiators]. It depends on how he trains and recovers, but if everything goes well, he’ll certainly be in strong consideration.”

Both Hyderabad Kingsmen and Quetta Gladiators head into Sunday’s encounter seeking their first win of the tournament after suffering defeats in their respective opening matches.

READ: Jason Gillespie breaks silence on relationship with PCB

Hyderabad Kingsmen head coach Jason Gillespie has dismissed any lingering speculation of a fallout with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), insisting that his relationship with the board remains “absolutely fine.”

Gillespie, who stepped down from his role as Pakistan’s Test head coach in December 2024 amid reports of differences with the PCB, commented on his relationship with the board on Saturday.

“Absolutely no problem,” Gillespie said when asked about his equation with the PCB.

“I finished my role as Test coach, and these things happen in coaching. We’ve all moved on; there’s no drama at all. From my end and the PCB’s end, the relationship is perfectly fine.”

The former Australia fast bowler had taken over the red-ball setup in April 2024 but endured a brief tenure amid reports of differences with team management.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

However, he made it clear that any such issues are now firmly in the past.

Shifting focus to the broader cricketing landscape, Jason Gillespie also weighed in on the growing influence of franchise leagues and their impact on international cricket, particularly the longest format.

“I love international cricket, especially Test cricket, and I’m not alone in that,” he said.

“It’s a challenge for administrators to strike the right balance with so many leagues around the world, but I think they’ve done a decent job so far.”

He acknowledged the increasing workload on players, particularly fast bowlers, who are often forced to make tough choices across formats.

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“Fast bowling is a very demanding job. You’re seeing players become more selective, especially with the rise of T20 cricket. It’s difficult to play all three formats throughout the year,” he said.

Gillespie also pointed out a shifting trend in modern cricket, where some players are opting out of certain formats altogether to prolong their careers, underlining the complexity of scheduling in today’s packed calendar.

The Hyderabad Kingsmen coach expressed confidence in his squad, singling out Saim Ayub as a player to watch despite recent inconsistent batting form.

“Saim is a quality player. There will always be ups and downs, but we’re encouraging him to play his natural game, watch the ball and back his strengths. I’m really looking forward to seeing him perform in this tournament,” he said.

READ: MS Dhoni to miss first two weeks of IPL 2026 due to injury

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

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

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

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.

READ: PSL 10 shatters live streaming record

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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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

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.

READ: Mitchell Santner opens up on India’s Dubai advantage ahead of Champions Trophy final

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