Coach Gillespie Aims to Improve Pakistan’s Fitness Ahead of England Test Series

Pakistan’s red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie, has emphasized the importance of fitness as his team prepares to face England in a three-match Test series, starting Monday in Multan.

Gillespie, a former Australian fast bowler, took over as head coach in April but endured a tough start with a 2-0 defeat at home to Bangladesh in his debut series.

Speaking on the BBC World Service’s Stumped podcast, Gillespie highlighted the need for physical conditioning to tackle the demands of international cricket. “We can’t afford to have players in international cricket who are not fit or strong enough to negotiate the rigours of the game,” he said.

Reflecting on the Bangladesh series, Gillespie acknowledged the team’s talent but noted that consistency was lacking. “We’ve got some wonderful players, but we need to be more consistent. We’ve got the skills, but we need to keep fine-tuning them,” he said.

The 49-year-old coach also pointed out that fitness will be a key focus moving forward, as it is essential for maintaining high performance across multiple formats.

Gillespie also came to the defense of captain Shan Masood, who has been under scrutiny after losing all five of his matches as Test skipper, including a 3-0 series defeat to Australia last December.

“Shan has a very clear plan on how the Test side should play, and we are completely aligned on that,” Gillespie stated. He praised Masood’s communication and leadership, expressing confidence in the captain’s approach despite the poor recent results.

The upcoming series against England offers Gillespie and Masood a chance for redemption. The first Test kicks off in Multan, with the second scheduled to begin on October 15, and the final Test in Rawalpindi starting on October 24.

Gillespie acknowledged the challenge posed by Brendon McCullum’s England but remained optimistic. “We know we are probably the underdogs, but we are excited to show what we can do.”

With fitness as a priority and a renewed focus on consistency, Pakistan will look to rebound in a tough series against one of cricket’s top sides.