Jason Gillespie (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: Former Australian all-rounder Jason Gillespie has been appointed as the head coach of new franchise Hyderabad in the Pakistan Super League. The 50-year-old will return to Pakistan cricket in a new role after a turbulent exit from the national set-up in December 2024.Gillespie to build Hyderabad team from scratch for PSL auction on February 11. He will then lead the team in the 2026 season, which begins on March 26. Hyderabad is one of the two new franchises added for the upcoming season along with the team from Sialkot.This is Gillespie’s first involvement with Pakistan cricket since resigning as head coach of the Pakistan Test team just days before the December 2024 South Africa series. His sudden departure raised eyebrows at the time and led to several public statements from the former fast bowler.In response to his new role, Gillespie shared his excitement on social media. “Excited to be a part of the @KingsmenCricket family. So looking forward to being a part of the Hyderabad team!” wrote on X.However, Gillespie is making a comeback after accusing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of not paying some of his fees. He said he was still awaiting payment for the work done during his tenure as Pakistan’s red-ball coach. “Yes, without going into details, we’re obviously still waiting for some kind of reward for the work done… Admittedly it was a little disappointing, but look, hopefully it can be resolved sooner rather than later,” Gillespie wrote on Instagram.The PCB strongly denied the claims and issued a statement in response. “The Pakistan Cricket Board refutes the former head coach’s claims of non-payment of his dues,” a PCB spokesman said, adding that Gillespie left without giving four months’ notice.Gillespie had previously explained why he resigned from his Pakistan role. He said the removal of high-performing coach Tim Nielsen was a major factor. “I was completely and utterly blindsided by the decision not to have a high-performance coach,” Gillespie told ABC Sport, adding that poor communication made his role difficult.
