Mickey Arthur lambasts Pakistan cricket’s chaos while backing Jason Gillespie in feud with Aaqib Javed

Pakistan cricket has once again plunged into turmoil following their early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025hosted on home soil after 29 years. The disappointing performance has not only sparked outrage among fans but also reignited internal conflicts, exposing deep divisions within the coaching setup.

The feud: Aaqib Javed versus Jason Gillespie

The controversy began when Pakistan’s current head coach, Aaqib javedblamed the team’s struggles on excessive changes in management. During a press conference, Javed highlighted that Pakistan had changed “16 coaches and 26 selectors in two years,” arguing that such instability would disrupt any team. However, former red-ball coach Jason Gillespie fired back, accusing Javed of undermining him and Gary Kirsten during their tenures. Gillespie went as far as calling Javed a “clown” in a scathing social media post.

Mickey Arthur weighs in on Pakistan cricket’s self-destructive chaos

Former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur joined the debate, siding with Gillespie and criticizing the chaotic state of Pakistan cricket. He lamented the persistent chaos within Pakistan cricket, stating that the system often harms itself despite having immense talent and ample resources. Arthur emphasized that Pakistan possesses skilled young players who could thrive under structured leadership, but internal disarray continues to hinder progress. He was particularly disappointed because the appointments of Gillespie and Kirsten seemed like a step in the right direction, yet instability within the system ultimately affects the players the most.

“I love this quote to be brutally honest. Jason Gillespie is a wonderful coach, wonderful man. Pakistan cricket just continues to shoot itself in the foot. It is its worst enemy. There are so many good players; they’ve got the resources now; there’s so much young talent. They have incredible skill. And yet it’s still so chaotic. It’s really disappointing to see. I thought when they signed Gillespie and Kirsten, they had gone down exactly the right route, and they had got some really good players. Because ultimately it’s the players that lose out,” Arthur told talkSport.

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Arthur criticized the unstable environment in Pakistan cricket, stating that despite appointing high-quality coaches like Gillespie and Kirsten, internal politics and media-driven agendas continue to undermine progress. He described the system as a “jungle”, where external influences constantly disrupt decision-making, making it difficult for coaches to implement their vision. Arthur expressed sympathy for Gillespie and Kirsten, believing they were deliberately undermined, which not only harms their efforts but also negatively impacts the players and, ultimately, the future of Pakistan cricket.

“They had got some really good coaches who could take them forward. But then that machine that works in Pakistan that just keeps undermining and agendas are driven in the media. It’s a jungle out there and I feel desperately sorry for Gary and Jason. There’s no doubt in my mind that they were undermined because it’s to the detriment of the players and ultimate to the detriment of Pakistan cricket,” added Arthur.

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