Aqib Javed Appointed Interim Test Coach for Pakistan

Jason Gillespie has resigned as head coach of Pakistan's Test cricket team amid disputes with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), primarily due to the non-renewal of assistant coach Tim Nielsen's contract without Gillespie's consultation. Aqib Javed, already serving as the interim white-ball coach, has been appointed as the interim head coach for the Test team for the upcoming series against South Africa, starting on December 26. Gillespie’s tenure began in April and saw mixed results, including a notable series win against England after a defeat in Bangladesh. The PCB is also contending with the earlier resignation of Gary Kirsten, the white-ball coach, in October. The PCB has faced criticism for lack of communication and its preference for local coaches, which Gillespie and others have found frustrating. This upheaval adds pressure on the Pakistan team as they navigate their World Test Championship campaign and upcoming matches in South Africa and against the West Indies.