Cricket Enthusiasts Eagerly Await Gillespie’s Return to Australia for Pakistan A Matches
Former South Australia and Adelaide Strikers coach Jason Gillespie is set to make his first tour since being named Pakistan’s Test coach, as he oversees two four-day matches for the Pakistan Shaheens (Pakistan A) in Darwin, Australia, next month.
The Shaheens will play two four-day games against Bangladesh A, with Gillespie leading the team from July 19-22 and July 26-29. After these matches, Gillespie will return to Pakistan to prepare the squad for a two-Test series against Bangladesh.
Gillespie, who recently stepped down from his roles with South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers, expressed his excitement about the opportunity to coach an international Test side:
“The opportunity to be the head coach of Pakistan’s Test side is fantastic. It’s an honor. I’ve been coaching for quite a while now in various roles around the world, but one thing I haven’t done is coach an international Test side. When this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it.”
In addition to the four-day matches, the Shaheens will remain in Darwin during August, competing in 50-over matches against Northern Territory and Bangladesh A, before taking part in an expanded nine-team Top End T20 series. This T20 tournament, which runs from August 9 to August 18, will also feature a Bangladesh High Performance side, as well as teams from the Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers, and Tasmania, alongside academy sides from the Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars.
PCB’s Gratitude and Expanded Tour
PCB director of international cricket Usman Wahla expressed his gratitude to the Northern Territory for hosting the Shaheens for the second consecutive year, stating that the players had a “memorable experience” and enjoyed performing in front of enthusiastic fans during their previous visit. Wahla also highlighted the addition of red-ball cricket matches to the tour, aimed at providing more exposure and experience to the young cricketers.
This tour will not only give the Shaheens valuable playing time but also provide a pre-season opportunity for Australian domestic cricketers involved in the Top End T20 series. As Kade Harvey, the Perth Scorchers’ general manager, noted:
“The competition adds another layer to what our pre-season would typically be, exposing players to tournament conditions ahead of the Australian domestic season.”
The expanded Top End T20 series, with the participation of cricketing powerhouses like Pakistan and Bangladesh, is a testament to the growing potential of winter cricket in the Northern Territory, as highlighted by NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey.
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