PCB, Gillespie in contention over unpaid dues

LAHORE: A fresh controversy has erupted between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and former head coach Jason Gillespie, with both parties engaging in a blame game over the alleged non-payment of dues following the Australian’s resignation in December 2024.

Gillespie, who was appointed as head coach of Pakistan’s Test team in April 2024, recently claimed in an interview that he is still awaiting payment for services rendered during his brief stint with the national side. However, the PCB has categorically denied the allegations, stating that Gillespie violated his contractual obligations by stepping down without serving the mandatory notice period. “Yeah, without going into the details, obviously still waiting on some remuneration from work that has been done,” Gillespie said in a recent interview. “Admittedly, that has been a little bit disappointing, but hopefully that can get sorted sooner rather than later.”

In response, the PCB issued an official statement yesterday rejecting the claims and clarifying its position. “The Pakistan Cricket Board refutes claims made by a former head coach on the non-payment of his dues. The former head coach abruptly left his position without giving a four-month notice period, which was a clear breach of contractual terms,” said a PCB spokesperson.

“The coaching contract explicitly mentioned a notice period applicable to both parties, and the coach was fully aware of it.” Gillespie, alongside Gary Kirsten, was signed by the PCB in early 2024 on a two-year contract to overhaul Pakistan’s red and white-ball cricket setup. However, the appointments failed to bring the desired results, leading to a turbulent phase in the team’s performance.

Kirsten was the first to step down after just six months, reportedly due to differences with the PCB’s cricket operations. Following Kirsten’s departure, Gillespie was also given charge of the white-ball teams during Pakistan’s tour of Australia.