Pakistan team head coach Jason Gillespie has decided to resign from his post after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided not to renew the contract of his assistant coach Tim Nelson for the South Africa series. Geo News on Thursday.
Nelson’s contract expired after the Man in Green’s recent tour of Australia. He was appointed as the High Performance Red Ball coach in August this year.
The assistant coach revealed that the cricket body told him that despite expressing his commitment for the upcoming South Africa and West Indies series, his services were no longer required.
Gillespie told the board that his decision not to go to South Africa was for personal reasons. The head coach was scheduled to arrive in the country tomorrow (Friday) to oversee the pre-Test camp.
Further reports suggest that Nelson’s decision not to renew his contract, which caught the former Australian cricketer off guard, left him frustrated.
Sources close to the matter say that they were not consulted before the decision was taken, adding to their displeasure against the board.
Gillespie’s uneasiness with the PCB stems from recent management changes. In October, he was removed from the Test side’s selection panel, relegating his role to that of “match-day strategist”.
Since the end of Pakistan’s white-ball series in Australia, where he served briefly as interim coach following Gary Kirsten’s resignation, communication between the board and the former Australian legend has reportedly been minimal. .
Adding to Gillespie’s frustration is his belief in Nelson’s strong relationship with the players.
Both Kirsten and the long-format coach suspected that Nelson’s absence from Pakistan contributed to his contract not being renewed, despite being available for the full tours of South Africa and the West Indies.
The PCB’s reluctance to extend Nelson’s contract is in line with its broader trend of prioritizing coaching staff locally.
The board had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the limited amount of time overseas coaches spent in Pakistan – criticism that preceded Christen’s resignation in October.
However, Gillespie consistently defended his adherence to treaty obligations regarding his presence in Pakistan.
His current contract runs until mid-2026, and his departure – whether through resignation or dismissal – could have significant financial implications for the PCB.
The PCB is yet to announce Nelson’s replacement, creating uncertainty over the coaching structure for the crucial Test series.