Jason Gillespie has strongly criticized Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar for his remarks about Pakistan’s cricket team following their early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The former Australian fast bowler dismissed Gavaskar’s statement as “absolute nonsense” and defended Pakistan’s ability to compete at the highest level.
Gavaskar’s comments came after Pakistan, the defending champions and tournament hosts, endured a disastrous campaign, crashing out in the group stage. Their campaign began with a 60-run defeat against New Zealand, followed by a crushing six-wicket loss to India. Their final group-stage game against Bangladesh was washed out, sealing their fate. The poor showing led Gavaskar to claim that even a second-string Indian side could defeat the current Pakistan team.
“I think a B team (from India) certainly can give Pakistan a run for their money. C team, I am not too sure. But a B team will be very, very hard to beat for Pakistan in their current form,” Sunil Gavaskar remarked on Sports Today.
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However, Jason Gillespie was quick to refute these claims, calling them baseless and disrespectful. The former Pakistan Test coach insisted that Pakistan has the talent to beat any team in the world if the right players are identified and given consistent backing.
“I don’t buy this rhetoric. I saw some comments from Sunil Gavaskar about the Indian B team or Indian C team being able to beat Pakistan’s top team. That’s nonsense, absolute nonsense,” Jason Gillespie said.
He further emphasized that Pakistan’s struggles are more about selection instability rather than a lack of talent. He pointed out that if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sticks with a core group of players and allows them time to develop, the results will improve.
“If Pakistan picks and sticks with the right players and gives them time to shine, they can beat anyone. I have no doubt about that. They just need to identify top-tier talent, support them, and be patient,” Jason Gillespie added.
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Addressing a recurring issue in Pakistan cricket, Gillespie criticized the impatience within the system. He stressed that unless the PCB hires the right personnel and provides them with the time needed to build a solid team, nothing will change.
“There’s far too much impatience in Pakistan cricket. If the PCB truly wants change and better results, they need to put the right people in place, get the best players involved, and ensure stability in selection. They need to support these decisions and give them time to produce results,” he explained.
Gillespie also highlighted the importance of giving coaches a fair chance to implement their vision. He argued that constant chopping and changing only disrupts progress and prevents meaningful development.
“The same applies to coaches. If you’re going to appoint a coach, give them enough time to truly build something meaningful. Otherwise, the results will remain the same,” he concluded.
