In a surprising move, Pakistan's red-ball coach Jason Gillespie has revealed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stripped him of his powers in team selection. Gillespie, who took over the coaching role with an assurance of a free hand in decision-making, now finds himself with a reduced role limited to match-day strategies.

The decision came after Pakistan’s defeat to England in the first Test in Multan, following which both Gillespie and captain Shan Masood were removed from the selection committee. The PCB introduced a new panel that has taken bold decisions, including the exclusion of key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah for the remaining matches of the series.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of the third Test in Rawalpindi, Gillespie confirmed the reshuffle:

"The PCB came out and made some changes after that Test match. It was decided that a new selection panel would come in and they would be making decisions. I was not involved in the decision-making, I was just there. I'm now just the coach on match-day strategy. I just keep out of things now and just focus on the players and getting them ready for cricket."

Gillespie, however, took the decision in good spirits, stating that he is now entirely focused on his role as head coach, helping the team prepare for the matches. He humorously responded when asked about the team combination:

"It's not for me to talk about now. I'm no longer a selector, so I'm probably not the person to ask. I'm getting splinters in my a* from sitting on the fence here,"* he said with a laugh.

Despite his reduced role, Gillespie made it clear that his priority is helping the players perform at their best, leaving the selection decisions to the new committee. He reiterated:

"Look, it’s not for me to talk about now. I am not a selector. I am a match day strategist as head coach, and I’m all about the players. My focus is on them. I will let the selectors do their job, and we will just go out there and play the best cricket we can possibly play."