Jason Gillespie declines ‘stupid welcome videos’ request, awkward moment unfolds at PSL franchise arrival

Jason Gillespie was appointed as the PSL franchise’s new head coach earlier this year, with the announcement made in January.

Updated on: Mar 25, 2026, 10:07:21 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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An awkward moment unfolded on Tuesday after former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie joined Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen ahead of the start of the 2026 season, which is set to begin on Thursday. Gillespie was appointed as the franchise’s new head coach earlier this year, with the announcement made in January.

Jason Gillespie was named head coach of Hyderabad franchise in PSL 2026

In a viral video, Gillespie is seen instantly refusing a cameraman’s request to shoot a “welcome video”. Calling it “stupid”, the Aussie politely walked off, saying he was busy and had work to do.

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The 29-second clip begins with members of the franchise seated in a hotel lobby before panning to an upper floor to catch Gillespie. However, when asked to come down for a video shoot, he said, “I am not coming down. I have a lot of work to do. I’m not going to shoot those stupid welcome videos.”

The former Pakistan Test head coach has been appointed as the head coach of the Hyderabad unit, one of two new franchises in the PSL this season. His previous coaching stint was with Pakistan’s red-ball side for a brief period of just six months in 2024.

“I’m very excited to be part of the Kingsmen team at Hyderabad,” Gillespie had told ESPNcricinfo in January. “Lots to look forward to and I can’t wait to get started!”

The announcement came just weeks before the inaugural PSL auction, where Hyderabad and Sialkot, the other new franchise, had to build their squads from scratch.

The appointment marks Gillespie’s first coaching role in Pakistan since his acrimonious fallout with the PCB, which led to him stepping down as Pakistan’s red-ball coach days before a two-Test series in South Africa.

The 11th season of the PSL will be played behind closed doors due to the ongoing West Asia crisis and has been reduced to a two-city affair. Originally planned across six cities, the tournament will now be held only in Lahore and Karachi. The opening ceremony in Lahore has also been cancelled.

However, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has left the door open for fans to return in the later stages of the tournament, though that will depend on the situation in Iran improving.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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