Thu Mar 06 07:46:25 UTC 2025: ## Former Pakistan Coach Calls Successor a “Clown” in Bitter Feud

**LAHORE, PAKISTAN** – A bitter feud has erupted between former Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie and his successor, Aaqib Javed, with Gillespie accusing Javed of undermining him and former white-ball coach Gary Kirsten to secure the top coaching job.

Gillespie, in a social media response to comments made by Javed following Pakistan’s disastrous exit from the ICC Champions Trophy, called Javed a “clown” and claimed he had secretly campaigned for the all-formats coaching role. Javed had blamed the team’s poor performance on the high turnover of coaches and selectors in recent years, stating that Pakistan had seen 16 coaches and 26 selectors in just two years.

Gillespie, who resigned from his post in December, countered that Javed’s comments were “hilarious,” directly alleging that Javed’s actions actively worked against Gillespie and Kirsten. Gillespie himself had briefly filled in as white-ball coach following Kirsten’s resignation in October. Javed, who also serves as Pakistan’s national selector, has since been appointed as Pakistan’s interim white-ball coach, a role now extended to include the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Pakistan’s performance in the Champions Trophy was widely criticized, leading to the dropping of star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20 squad and the appointment of Salman Ali Agha as the new T20 captain. This latest upheaval follows a pattern of instability within the Pakistan cricket team, a fact acknowledged by Javed himself. However, Gillespie’s accusations paint a picture of internal sabotage rather than simply poor management. The feud casts a long shadow over Pakistan cricket as the team prepares for its upcoming tour of New Zealand.

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