![Mickey Arthur slams PCB [Source: @Team_BabarAzam/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1741787645324_Pakistan_Jungle.jpg?type=mq)
Mickey Arthur slams PCB [Source: @Team_BabarAzam/X.com]
Pakistan’s shocking first-round exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy has reignited familiar chaos, with former coaches and players launching scathing critiques of the PCB’s management.
The drama peaked when ex-Test coach Jason Gillespie took to Instagram to brand his successor, Aaqib Javed, a “clown,” accusing him of backroom sabotage during his brief tenure with the Pakistan cricket team.
The Gillespie And Aaqib Saga
Gillespie, who resigned alongside white-ball coach Gary Kirsten in 2024 under mysterious circumstances, reacted fiercely to Aaqib’s defence of Pakistan’s dismal performance. Aaqib had blamed instability, stating:
“We changed 16 coaches in the last two-and-a-half years and 26 selectors. If you do this to any team in the world, their performance would be the same.”
Gillespie fired back, “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.”
Mickey Arthur’s Blunt Take On Pakistan Cricket
Former head coach Mickey Arthur, who navigated Pakistan’s turbulent setup from 2016–2019, sided with Gillespie, calling the PCB’s environment a “jungle” of agendas.
“I love this quote to be brutally honest. Jason Gillespie is a wonderful coach, wonderful man. Pakistan cricket just continues to shoot itself in the foot. It is its worst enemy,” Arthur said.
Arthur lamented the wasted potential of Gillespie and Kirsten’s appointments, which initially signalled hope.
“They had got some really good coaches who could take them forward. But then that machine that works in Pakistan that just keeps undermining and agendas are driven in the media. It’s a jungle out there… I feel desperately sorry for Gary and Jason.”
Captaincy Chaos & Lost Form
The coaching turmoil coincided with on-field disarray. Babar Azam was replaced by Mohammad Rizwan as captain, all-rounder Shadab Khan vanished from squads, and spearhead Shaheen Afridi lost his lethal edge.
Arthur stressed these issues stem from systemic dysfunction saying,“It’s to the detriment of the players and ultimately to the detriment of Pakistan cricket.”
Revolving Door of Coaches & Selectors
Aaqib’s tally of 16 coaches and 26 selectors in 2.5 years underscores the PCB’s instability. Arthur, recalling his own challenges stated that the PCB is still full of chaos and the players are only suffering.
“There are so many good players… they’ve got the resources now; there’s so much young talent. And yet it’s still so chaotic.”
With the PCB yet to address the core issues, political meddling, erratic appointments, and player mismanagement, Pakistan’s cricket crisis shows no signs of abating.
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 "Soumyajit Dutta")
