Former Australia cricketer Jason Gillespie was set to return to Pakistan cricket after being named head coach of PSL’s new franchise Hyderabad ahead of the league’s expanded 11th season.
In a fresh development ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 season, former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie is set to take charge as head coach of the league’s newly introduced franchise, Hyderabad, for the upcoming 11th edition.
Gillespie’s return to Pakistan cricket comes after an earlier stint with the national team as red-ball coach, which ended on a bitter note in late 2024. His tenure concluded amid reports of poor communication and a financial dispute linked to management decisions. Despite that experience, Gillespie has once again shown confidence in Pakistan’s premier T20 league by accepting the Hyderabad coaching role.
Jason Gillespie to Build Hyderabad’s Core Squad
The 50-year-old will be part of a historic PSL season, with the tournament expanding to eight teams for the first time. Hyderabad and Sialkot have joined the league as the two newest franchises, marking a major step in the PSL’s growth.
Hyderabad is owned by Fawad Sarwar, who secured the franchise after placing the highest bid of Rs 1.75 billion. While the league is set to begin soon, the PSL auction is scheduled for February 11. Notably, the league has scrapped its traditional draft system and introduced a new auction-based model.
As a new team, Hyderabad will look to build its core squad from scratch at the auction, giving the franchise a fair opportunity to sign top-tier local and overseas players.
With Gillespie at the helm, Hyderabad will aim for a competitive debut campaign. The former Australia pacer brings a strong coaching reputation, having guided Yorkshire to back-to-back County Championship titles in 2014 and 2015.
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Gillespie’s Proven Coaching Record
Gillespie began his coaching journey in Zimbabwe, working with the Mid West Rhinos between 2010 and 2012. In 2011, he also served as the bowling coach for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League.
His most successful coaching phase came with Yorkshire from 2011 to 2016, where he led the county side to two championship titles. Gillespie later expanded his presence in franchise cricket through the Big Bash League, where he has served as head coach of the Adelaide Strikers for over a decade.
During his time in the BBL, Gillespie was also appointed interim head coach of the Papua New Guinea national team in 2017. However, his most recent international coaching role with Pakistan ended on an unhappy note.
Now, with a fresh challenge in the PSL, Gillespie will look to put past issues behind him and focus on shaping Hyderabad into a competitive force in the league’s new era.
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