Jason Gillespie’s return to Pakistan cricket has already grabbed attention, with the former Australia fast bowler making his intent clear ahead of PSL 2026. In a clip that has gone viral, Gillespie cheekily turned down a request to film a franchise-style welcome reel, saying he had “too much to do,” underlining his no-nonsense approach as he begins his new stint with Hyderabad Kingsmen.
“Hey mate, I’m up here. How are you going? I’m not going to come down, though – I’ve got too much to do. I bet you want me to film one of those stupid arrival videos you always see. I’m not doing that, mate, I’ve got too much to do. But thanks anyway,” Gillespie said in a video uploaded by the Hyderabad franchise.
The 50-year-old has re-entered Pakistan cricket less than 15 months after his turbulent exit from the national setup. Gillespie had served as Pakistan’s red-ball head coach after being appointed in April 2024, but resigned in December 2024 following an eventful and short-lived tenure that lasted around eight months. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed his departure in December, with Aqib Javed named interim replacement.
Now, Gillespie is back in a franchise role. Hyderabad, one of the two new PSL teams added for the 2026 season, appointed him as head coach in January, marking a fresh chapter in his Pakistan association.
His blunt arrival message has only added to the buzz. For Hyderabad Kingsmen, it signals they have brought in a coach focused more on preparation than presentation. And for Pakistan cricket, Gillespie’s comeback is significant: after a difficult national-team stint and public friction with the PCB, he has chosen to return anyway – this time in the high-pressure, fast-moving world of the PSL.
Hyderabad are scheduled to begin their campaign on Thursday, March 26 against Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Hyderabad Kingsmen squad
Marnus Labuschagne (c), Hassan Khan (vc), Usman Khan, Akif Javed, Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Ali, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Glenn Maxwell, Hammad Azam, Riley Meredith, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Mehmood, Hunain Shah, Rizwan Mehmood, Saad Ali, Tayyab Arif, Maheesh Theekshana, and Ahmed Hussain.
