Australian cricket great Jason Gillespie has made the bombshell decision to resign as Pakistan’s red-ball coach.

Gillespie, who has previously expressed his frustrations with the the Pakistan Cricket Board, has been immediately replaced by former international fast bowler in Aqib Javed.

The 49-year-old Gillespie had been signed up by the Pakistan Cricket Board on a two-year contract back in April alongside South African legend Gary Kirsten.

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Kirsten also resigned as limited-overs coach in October.

Gillespie resigned on Thursday amid media reports of a breakdown in relations between him and the PCB.

Aqib, who was appointed Pakistan’s interim white-ball coach last month after Gillespie was sacked from that position, will now take on the red-ball coaching duties but also in an interim capacity.

“Aqib’s first assignment as red-ball head coach will be the two-match Test series against South Africa during the ongoing all-format tour,” the PCB said in a statement.

Pakistan are in South Africa playing a three-match Twenty20 international series followed by three one-day games, before the first Test begins in Centurion on December 26, and the second in Cape Town on January 3.

Aqib Javed’s recent promotion during a selection committee reshuffle frustrated Gillespie.

He had already revealed his battles with Pakistan officials, describing his Test role as a downgraded “match-day strategist” — something that he said “wasn’t what I signed up for” during Pakistan’s Test tour of England.

It appeared the relationship broke down even further when Pakistan was in Australia, with ESPNCricinfo reporting that the a decision had been made to sack Gillespie (from the white-ball role).

But Pakistan issued a stern response to the report, saying: “PCB strongly refutes the story. As announced previously, Jason Gillespie will continue to coach the Pakistan side for the two red-ball matches against South Africa.”

At the time Mickey Arthur, who knows plenty about Pakistan cricket after coaching the team from 2016-19, said: “This is just incredible and another very good coach under contract set to be replaced!”

Gillespie’s resignation comes after just eight months in the job.

– With AAP