Jason Gillespie Embraces Role Of Match Day Strategist After PCB Removes Him From Selection Panel (Source: AP)

Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie dropped a bombshell and revealed he won't be involved in the team's decision-making regarding squad selection. When Gillespie took over as Pakistan coach, he had a say in the squad selection, but that won't be the case going forward. The decision was made after Pakistan's embarrassing defeat against England in the first Test. The defeat rattled the PCB and they made some tough calls, including the omission of senior players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah from the squad for the following two Tests.
The revamped selection committee, which includes former umpire Aleem Dar and former players Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, and Hassan Cheema, were given full authority in squad selection and the kind of pitches they wanted to prepare for the matches.
During a media interaction, Gillespie revealed PCB told him he won't be involved in the team's decision-making anymore.
“I’m now just the coach for match day strategy. So, I keep out of things now and just focus on the players and getting them ready for cricket,” Gillispie said in a media conference.
“The PCB came in after that (first) Test match. It was decided that a new selection panel would come in, and they would be making decisions. I wasn’t involved in the decision-making,” Gillespie confirmed to the media.

'I'm A Match Day Strategist': Jason Gillespie

Gillespie further said that his role is now limited to preparing match-day strategies and getting the best out of the players.
“Look, it’s not for me to talk about now. I am not a selector. I am a match day strategist as head coach, and I’m all about the players. My focus is on them.
“I will let the selectors do their job, and we will just go out there and play the best cricket we can possibly play,” he said.
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