Former Pakistan Test head coach Jason Gillespie has called his successor Aaqib Javed “a clown” and accused him of undermining him and former white-ball coach Gary Kirsten in order to take over their roles.

Gillespie and Kirsten were appointed to their respective positions in April 2024 but both resigned and were replaced by Aaqib before the end of the year.

Gillespie’s comments were in response to a social media post containing quotes from Aaqib, who attributed Pakistan’s recent poor form to a lack of continuity around selectors and coaches.

Pakistan crashed out of the Champions Trophy in the group stage without a win.

Speaking on Tuesday, Aaqib said: “We changed 16 coaches in the last two-and-a-half years and 26 selectors.

“If you do this to any team in the world, their performance would be the same.”

Replying on social media, Gillespie said: “This is hilarious. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and I behind the scenes, campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown.”

Ex-South Africa batter Kirsten spent just six months as white-ball head coach before resigning in October.

Former Australia fast bowler Gillespie took interim charge during the white-ball tour of Australia in his absence, winning the one-day series but losing the T20 series, before Aaqib took permanent charge.

Gillespie, who signed a two-year deal with the Pakistan Cricket Board last April, resigned as Test head coach in December, shortly after being removed from Pakistan’s selection panel during the Test series against England.