New Delhi: Just 13 months after departing on a bitter note from Pakistan, Jason Gillespie is set to return to the country for another top job. Gillespie, who left the Pakistan Test team’s head coach post in December 2024 after an eventful eight-month stint, has been named as the coach of Hyderabad, one of the two new franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Gillespie was unveiled as the Hyderabad coach via a social media post. “Vision clear. Direction locked. Entering a new era,” the account for Kingsmen Cricket, co-owners of the Hyderabad franchise, posted on X. “Jason Gillespie takes charge as head coach of Hyderabad in the HBL PSL. Welcome to the family, coach.”
“I’m very excited to be part of the Kingsmen team at Hyderabad,” Gillespie told ESPNcricinfo. “Lots to look forward to and I can’t wait to get started!”
Gillispie takes the reigns ahead of PSL auction
Gillespie was named Hyderabad’s coach just two weeks before the PSL auction. Hyderabad, alongside Sialkot, will build their squad from scratch ahead of the 2026 PSL.
The announcement comes weeks after Gillespie revealed inside details of his turbulent eight-month spell as Pakistan cricket team’s head coach. The former Australian pacer disclosed several issues that led to his departure from the role in acrimonious circumstances.
Gillespie revealed that the main reason behind his short stint as Pakistan head coach was the lack of communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He cited the sacking of Tim Nielsen as a high-performance red-ball coach as the last straw.
Gillespie was appointed the head coach in red-ball cricket while former South African batter Gary Kirsten was brough in for a similar role in white-ball formats by PCB in April 2024.
However, both Kirsten and Gillespie resigned in the space of two months after turbulent spells in their respective roles.