Former Pakistan Test cricket coach Jason Gillespie has criticised Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his absence from a crucial team-building session called the Connection Camp held on September 23, 2024, despite being located in Lahore while other officials traveled from different continents to attend the meeting.The Connection Camp was organised by the PCB with the aim of enhancing communication, collaboration, and performance within the national team. Both Gillespie and white-ball coach Gary Kirsten travelled significant distances to participate in the session.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Gary came up with this great idea of a connection camp. Everyone in Pakistan cricket basically shared their experiences in that meeting. I flew in from Australia, Gary flew in from South Africa, the Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dialed in Zoom,” Gillespie stated during a podcast appearance.
Gillespie expressed his disappointment with Naqvi’s decision to participate virtually rather than attending in person. “He is based in Lahore, but he did not come, while Gary came in from Africa. We both felt that the Chairman could not even drive 20 minutes to come here – that was a bit unusual,” he added.The camp featured participation from several prominent Pakistani cricketers, including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, and Shan Masood. The PCB’s Chief Operating Officer described the initiative as timely.Gillespie’s criticism adds to the recent controversies surrounding PCB. The former Australian cricketer, who stepped down from his position as Pakistan’s Test coach last year, highlighted the disparity between the commitment shown by international coaches and the local leadership.