Former Australia fast bowler and ex-Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie has lashed out at Sunil Gavaskar’s remarks on the diminishing India vs Pakistan rivalry. Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar claimed that even a second-string Indian team could give Pakistan a run for their money in one-day cricket. His comments came after India hammered Pakistan by six wickets in their Champions Trophy 2025 encounter.
Gavaskar said the India-Pakistan rivalry had lost its edge due to Pakistan’s inability to compete toe-to-toe with India, highlighting the stark contrast in the two nations’ ability to produce talented cricketers.
Gillespie, who was unceremoniously removed as Pakistan’s head coach, rejected Gavaskar’s argument, asserting that Pakistani players have the potential to succeed if provided with stability by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its system.
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“I don’t buy this rhetoric. I saw some comments from Sunil Gavaskar about the Indian B team or Indian C team beating Pakistan’s top team. That’s nonsense. Absolute nonsense. If Pakistan pick and stick with the right players and give them time to shine, time to learn, and develop their games, they can beat anyone. I have got no doubt about that,” Gillespie said in a video shared by Pakistan journalist Saj Sadiq.
“They are high in talent. You just have to pick the right kind of talent. You have to support them and be patient with them. There’s far too much impatience, in my opinion, in Pakistan cricket.
“If the PCB, as a board, wants to change and get the right results, they need to get the right people, the right selection panel, and give players time to flourish and do their job. If you are hiring a new coach, give him the opportunity to do something meaningful, give him the time. Otherwise, the results are going to be the same,” he added.
GILLESPIE CALLS AAQIB JAVED ‘A CLOWN’
Notably, Gillespie had previously called Pakistan’s current head coach, Aaqib Javed, a “clown” for his comments about instability in the set-up. Gillespie accused the former fast bowler of orchestrating the very instability he later criticised when he and Gary Kirsten were leading Pakistan’s Test and white-ball teams last year.
Gillespie and Kirsten were appointed as Pakistan men’s team coaches in April 2024. However, they did not last in their roles until the end of the year. Aaqib replaced them as interim coach and has remained in the position since.
Aaqib blamed Pakistan’s poor Champions Trophy campaign on a lack of continuity, saying, “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.”
Responding on social media, Gillespie said: “This is hilarious. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and me behind the scenes, campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown.”
Pakistan endured a disastrous Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, failing to win a single match. They lost to New Zealand and India in the group stage before their final match was washed out due to rain in Rawalpindi. On the ICC tournament’s return to Pakistan after nearly three decades, the team put on a disappointing performance.
It was reported that Aaqib Javed would be sacked after Pakistan’s dismal showing, but the former fast bowler has retained his role for the upcoming tour of New Zealand in March.
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