Courtesy: PCB/X
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly considering the option to appoint Jason Gillespie as an all-format head coach for the national team, if their current performance in the white-ball tour in Australia is "satisfactory." Since Gary Kirsten abruptly left the coaching position in LOIs, Gillespie, who leads Pakistan's Test team, has also taken over as the head coach for the white-ball series.
According to a PCB source, who spoke to the PTI on Thursday, November 7, the governing body for cricket in Pakistan is currently developing a plan to name Jason Gillespie as the all-format head coach rather than seeking out new applicants. The decision will be taken only after the result of the on-going ODI and T20I series against Australia.
The call for appointing Gillespie will be done before the Zimbabwe tour of Pakistan: PCB source
"For the moment, the Board is working on a plan to appoint Jason Gillespie as all-format head coach instead of advertising for new candidates," a PCB source told PTI. " If Pakistan performs satisfactorily in the remaining games, Gillespie will likely be asked to stay on as head coach across all formats," the source further stated.
The call for appointing Gillespie will be done before the Zimbabwe tour for another white-ball series. PCB is quite confident that Gillespie will take up this opportunity. At present, the Pak team is in Australia to play three ODIs and T20I series. Although PCB's top pick is Gillespie, but is also considering three former Pakistan players, including ex-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, if things don't materialize.
On November 4, Pakistan lost to Australia by a narrow margin of two wickets in Melbourne in the first ODI match of the series. Before three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) on November 14, 16, and 18, they have two more One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against Australia, the second one on Friday in Adelaide and the third one on Sunday in Perth. Gillespie has a crucial task ahead of him as head coach of the current white-ball series against Australia. The outcome of this visit will be crucial in deciding Pakistan's coaching approach going forward for upcoming international matches.
