Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has slammed India great Sunil Gavaskar for a distasteful remark about Pakistan cricket.
The former India skipper’s comments came after Pakistan were dumped out of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Despite being the hosts and the defending champions, Pakistan delivered a terrible performance and bowed out of the competition at the group stage.
Pakistan went winless in the Champions Trophy 2025
They began their campaign with a 60-run loss against New Zealand. In their second game, they suffered a crushing 6-wicket loss at the hands of India before their final game against Bangladesh was washed out.
Following Pakistan’s unceremonious exit from the tournament, Sunil Gavaskar claimed that the current Pakistan team would struggle to even beat a second string Indian side.
“I think a B team (from India) certainly (can give Pakistan a run for their money). C team, I am not too sure. But a B team will be very, very hard to beat for Pakistan in their current form,” Gavaskar had said on ‘Sports Today’.
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However, Gavaskar’s comments have not gone down well with Jason Gillespie. The former Australia pacer has called the comments ‘absolute nonsense’ before saying that Pakistan can beat any team in the world if the right players are backed.
“I don’t buy this rhetoric. I saw some comments from Sunil Gavaskar about the Indian B team or Indian C team would beat the Pakistan top team. That’s nonsense, absolute nonsense,” said Jason Gillespie.
“If Pakistan pick and stick with the right players and give them time to shine and, you know, time to learn and develop their games, they can beat anyone. I’ve got no doubt about that. They just got to pick the right high-end talent and support them and be patient with them,” he added.
Far too much impatience in Pakistan cricket: Jason Gillespie
Speaking further, Jason Gillespie pointed out the issue of impatience in Pakistan cricket. He stated that the situation of Pakistan cricket won’t change until and unless the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hires the right people and backs the right players. He also urged the board to be patient with the players and the selectors.
“You know, there’s far too much impatience, in my opinion, in Pakistan cricket. And if Pakistan, if the board, PCB and the board want change and want results to improve, they need to get the right people in place, get the right players on the bus and get the right selection panel in place and back them in and give them time and be patient with them to allow them to just do their jobs,” he said.
Onus on Pakistan to improve says Gillespie
Jason Gillespie further said that the coaches need time as well to make a difference. He stated that unless the coaches are allowed to build something meaningful, the results won’t change.
Gillespie was appointed the head coach of Pakistan’s Test team in April last year after signing a two-year deal. However, he resigned in December shortly after being removed from Pakistan’s selection panel during the Test series against England. Similarly, Gary Kirsten also stepped down as Pakistan’s white-ball coach just six months after his appointment.
“And same goes with the coaches. If you’re going to give a coach an opportunity, give them an opportunity to really build something meaningful because otherwise the results are going to stay the same, he said.
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