Gillespie calls for 'ruthlessness' from Pakistan ahead of England series
What's the story
Jason Gillespie, the coach of Pakistan's men's Test cricket team, has urged his players to demonstrate more ruthlessness in their game.
This call comes after a disappointing 0-2 series loss at home against Bangladesh.
Despite the defeat, Gillespie believes that the team showed potential but failed to maintain their momentum throughout the matches.
Performance analysis
Gillespie reflects on Pakistan's performance against Bangladesh
In a podcast hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Gillespie analyzed Pakistan's performance in the Test series against Bangladesh.
He stated, "We showed glimpses of quality in the Test series against Bangladesh, where we were really driving the game forward."
However, he also acknowledged that they failed to sustain their strong start and allowed their opponents to seize control.
Consistency call
Gillespie emphasizes need for consistency in performance
Gillespie stressed the importance of being consistent, saying, "What we need is a bit more ruthlessness. When we're ahead, we need to stay ahead and make sure we really drive home that advantage."
He also pointed out that although there were flashes of brilliance during the Bangladesh series, any drop in performance really hurt the team.
Upcoming challenge
Gillespie prepares team for upcoming England series
As they gear up for the home series against England, Gillespie knows his team has a tough road ahead.
He said, "We can only prepare to play against the players that England has selected."
Even with big names like James Anderson (retirement), Mark Wood (injury), and Ollie Robinson (dropped) missing from England's squad, Gillespie isn't feeling any pressure.
Team selection
Gillespie defends team selection for England series
The team selection for the upcoming series against England has been a hot topic of discussion.
Gillespie defended the decision to go with an all-pace attack on a surface that ultimately favored spinners during their defeat to Bangladesh.
He believes that the squad selected for the opening Test against England is well-balanced, despite criticism over some omissions.
Information
Pakistan squad for 1st England Test
Pakistan squad for 1st Test: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi.