'They don't have a selection strategy at all' - Ex-Pakistan coach Gillespie slams chief selector Aaqib Javed after selection chaos in England

Jason Gillespie has launched a sharp attack on Pakistan's selection process, criticising chief selector Aaqib Javed for the team's handling of squad changes during the England tour. Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the opening two Tests, losing by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley and then by 194 runs at Lord's. The turmoil extended beyond the field as the Pakistan Cricket Board replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and pace-bowling chief Umar Gul, and sent seven players home from England.

The criticism came as Pakistan prepared for the third and final Test at Edgbaston on September 9. Gillespie, who coached Pakistan for eight months during 2024 and oversaw a 2-1 Test series victory against England in that period, expressed concern about the team's current state and the manner in which selection decisions were being made. From the outside, Gillespie observed that the team appeared to be playing with fear.

"I feel for the players, this is these guys livelihoods. From the outside, it looks like they are playing with fear," Gillespie told The Australian newspaper.

Gillespie questioned the logic behind the treatment of Salman Ali Agha during the tour. The all-rounder captained Pakistan in Babar Azam's absence in the first Test before being dropped for the second. After the second Test, he was one of the players called back to Pakistan.

"Salman Ali Agha goes from captaining the team in the first Test against England to out of the team for the second Test and on the plane home before the third Test," Gillespie stated.

Gillespie slams Pakistan's selection strategy

Gillespie directly challenged Javed's recent public statements in which the chief selector had attributed Pakistan's struggles to external factors. The former coach rejected the deflection of responsibility, noting that Javed had held the position of chairman of selectors for the past two years.

"Aaqib Javed came out recently and blamed (former Pakistan white-ball coach) Gary Kirsten and myself for everything that is going on. Aaqib has been chairman of selectors for the past two years. We haven't even been there," Gillespie said.

"Somehow he claims it is our fault. Make sense out of that. I think Javed needs to look at himself in the mirror," he added.

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Gillespie also claimed that there is no communication whatsoever between Aaqib Javed and the Pakistani players.

"There is definitely no communication between Aaqib Javed, who is meant to be chairman of selectors, and the players," Gillespie said.