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In this exclusive interview, Jason Gillespie, the new head coach of the Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen and former Pakistan Test coach, sits down with PakPassion to discuss his return to Pakistan cricket, the PSL 2026 auction, and his honest assessment of the current state of the Australia and Pakistan national teams. The Australian legend opens up about coaching young fast bowlers, the scrutiny on senior players, and what it takes to succeed in T20 cricket.
Key revelations include:
• PSL auction insight: "We got pretty much the players we were after" - He describes the auction process as "satisfying," noting that they secured most of their primary targets. The team focused on a clear plan with depth charts, staying disciplined regarding their bidding limits.
• Babar Azam advice: "Is he completely clear on what his specific role is?" - He wants to see Babar play with "complete freedom"—which he defines as fearless but not reckless cricket—to overcome the fear of failure
• India vs Pakistan analysis: "I think they missed the trick by not batting first" - Discussing the India vs. Pakistan match, Gillespie believes Pakistan "missed a trick" by not batting first. He critiques the global trend of always choosing to bowl first, suggesting teams should look at the conditions in front of them rather than just statistics.
• Australia's T20 exit: "Australia only have themselves to blame, plain and simple" - Gillespie states that Australia "only have themselves to blame" for not progressing past the group stages, pointing to losses against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
• Player accountability: "Players need to take responsibility for their own performance" - Regarding the form of stars like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, he emphasizes that players must take responsibility for their performances.
• Marnus Labuschagne verdict: "He's a cricket tragic. He just loves the game so much" - He highlights Marnus Labuschagne as an "infectious personality" and a multi-dimensional player who will act as a senior leader for the young group.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
Key revelations include:
• PSL auction insight: "We got pretty much the players we were after" - He describes the auction process as "satisfying," noting that they secured most of their primary targets. The team focused on a clear plan with depth charts, staying disciplined regarding their bidding limits.
• Babar Azam advice: "Is he completely clear on what his specific role is?" - He wants to see Babar play with "complete freedom"—which he defines as fearless but not reckless cricket—to overcome the fear of failure
• India vs Pakistan analysis: "I think they missed the trick by not batting first" - Discussing the India vs. Pakistan match, Gillespie believes Pakistan "missed a trick" by not batting first. He critiques the global trend of always choosing to bowl first, suggesting teams should look at the conditions in front of them rather than just statistics.
• Australia's T20 exit: "Australia only have themselves to blame, plain and simple" - Gillespie states that Australia "only have themselves to blame" for not progressing past the group stages, pointing to losses against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
• Player accountability: "Players need to take responsibility for their own performance" - Regarding the form of stars like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, he emphasizes that players must take responsibility for their performances.
• Marnus Labuschagne verdict: "He's a cricket tragic. He just loves the game so much" - He highlights Marnus Labuschagne as an "infectious personality" and a multi-dimensional player who will act as a senior leader for the young group.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
