Former Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie has urged Mike Hesson to stand by his principles and trust his instincts as he takes charge of Pakistan's red-ball setup. Gillespie, who stepped down as Pakistan's Test coach in December 2024 after an eight-month stint, offered the advice ahead of Hesson's first Test in charge after being brought into the red-ball setup during Pakistan's ongoing tour of England.
"My advice to Mike would be: trust your instincts and don't be a yes man," Gillespie said, as quoted by The Telegraph. "I know him, he's a great guy and I think he's an excellent coach. I hope he just doesn't get caught up in all this mess just because he's happy to accept a pay cheque." Hesson has taken charge amid another period of upheaval in Pakistan cricket, with the team undergoing a major overhaul following heavy defeats in the first two Tests of the ongoing series. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent seven players home and parted ways with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul as part of the overhaul.
Gillespie said his warning was shaped by his own experience with the PCB, which he described as deeply frustrating and damaging to his confidence. He said his role changed significantly after Aaqib Javed became chairman of selectors, after initially being given responsibility for the Test side, players, staff, and selection. "When I came on board, they wanted to revive fast bowling in Pakistan, they wanted to prepare pitches that had a bit of bounce and carry, and I thought that would be cool," Gillespie said. However, he said Aaqib's appointment "fundamentally altered the landscape" and left him with virtually no influence over the team.
Gillespie also claimed the PCB still owes him "thousands of dollars", nearly two years after his departure. "The PCB still owes me thousands of dollars, but I was never going to be a yes man," he said. "I wasn't going to compromise on my principles. I never have throughout my career and I certainly wasn't going to change." The former Australia fast bowler said he could have remained quiet, agreed with everything, and collected his salary, but that was not who he was, adding that part of him knew he was probably going to be sacked within a couple of months anyway.