Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie said on Friday chairman of selectors Aaqib Javed needs to "look at himself in the mirror" with the national team "playing with fear". In a shock move, Pakistan this week replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and pace-bowling chief Umar Gul, and sent seven players home from England, in a dramatic response to successive Test thrashings.

Australia's Gillespie, who led the side for eight months in 2024, including a 2-1 Test series win against England, said it was sad to see. "I feel for the players, this is these guys' livelihoods," he told The Australian newspaper. "From the outside, it looks like they are playing with fear."

He laid the blame firmly at the door of Javed, criticizing the lack of a clear selection strategy and poor communication with the players. "Aaqib Javed came out recently and blamed Gary Kirsten and myself for everything that is going on. Aaqib has been chairman of selectors for the past two years. We haven't even been there," he added.

The tourists suffered an innings and 103-run loss in the series opener at Headingley before going down by 194 runs at Lord's. New Zealander Mike Hesson and Australian Ashley Noffke have taken charge for the rest of the tour, while several former players have expressed bewilderment at the board's decisions.