Jason Gillespie resigns, leaving Pakistan cricket in turmoil

In December 2021, Mohammad Amir, a fast bowler for Pakistan, announced his retirement from international cricket, marking the end of a career filled with controversy and legal issues. Amir, who was involved in a spot-fixing scandal during a Test match in England in 2010, served a five-year ban from the sport after being jailed in the UK along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif. Despite this setback, he made a return to the international arena in 2016, participating in all formats of the game until his decision to retire again in 2021. Following his retirement from international play, Amir continued his career in various franchise T20 leagues around the world. In December 2021, he left the game after the Pakistan cricket board failed to include him in the New Zealand tour. However, he did briefly return to play in a T20 World Cup in the US and the West Indies in 2023. Notably, Amir cited a desire to allow the next generation of cricketers to shine and take Pakistan cricket to new heights as a reason for his retirement. His career, however, remained marred by the ramifications of the spot-fixing incident, creating a complicated legacy in Pakistani cricket. Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket board sought to revamp its coaching staff, appointing Aqib Javed as the interim Test coach after Australian Jason Gillespie resigned over differences with the cricket board ahead of a crucial tour to South Africa. Pakistan prepared for a series of matches against South Africa, including three T20 internationals and a two-match Test series, demonstrating the nation's ongoing quest for success in international cricket despite the turmoil within its coaching ranks.