I will be tough on discipline with Pakistan: Arthur
Pakistan’s new coach Mickey Arthur has said he will not compromise on discipline, fitness and fielding standards during his time with the side.
Pakistan’s new coach Mickey Arthur has said he will not compromise on discipline, fitness and fielding standards during his time with the side.
Arthur was appointed Pakistan’s coach last week, filling the position vacated by Waqar Younis in April.
The assignment with Pakistan is Arthur’s third with an international side, after South Africa and Australia. He had considerable success with South Africa, but his tenure with Australia was marked by an uneasy relationship with players that culminated in the infamous homework episode on the tour of India in 2013, when four players were axed for ignoring orders. Arthur, who is expected to take over by the end of this month, stressed that discipline would bring better results for Pakistan.
“I will be tough on discipline and that’s the way we can get better and better results,” he said. “I want everybody to start playing for the team and I don’t want any selfish players around.
“Our bowling is good, but we need to lift our batting massively. I will also be tough on fielding and fitness, and need players who can play long term, and these issues are non-negotiable. I also want players who aren’t prepared to be bullied,” he said.
Discipline and fitness have been problem areas for Pakistan, who have slipped down the ICC rankings in limited-overs cricket.
Earlier this month, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal were left out of the training camp for the England tour on disciplinary grounds. Waqar’s report following Pakistan’s early exit from the World T20 had also highlighted concerns about Shehzad and Akmal’s attitudes, and the former coach had suggested the pair should be made to re-earn their place in the national squad with performances in domestic cricket.
Ranked ninth in One-day Internationals (ODIs) after the ICC’s annual update, Pakistan have won only three bilateral series in the format since December 2013, of which two were against Zimbabwe.
They were quarter-finalists in the 2015 World Cup but suffered early exits in the 2016 World T20 and the Asia Cup in February this year. They are currently ranked No 7 in T20Is.
Pakistan will travel to England and Ireland in July and September, where they are scheduled to play four Tests, five ODIs and one T20I against England, and two one-day matches against Ireland.
Arthur said the conditions would challenge the Pakistan players. “For Pakistan players, those conditions are trying, but I want the team to be up for the challenge. Without a doubt we will go to win... If the players show improvement, then I know I am doing my job,” Arthur said.
Intends to learn Urdu:
Arthur said he would buy a few Urdu books in order to be able to communicate with players effectively. “I will certainly like to learn a bit of Urdu so I can communicate.
“I have not spoken to any players. I am studying exactly where all the players are physically, mentally and technically,” he added.
Arthur’s another task would be to find a new physio for the team as Zimbabwe’s Brad Robinson has resigned due to family reasons.
The contract for the trainer Grant Luden has been extended till September.
“I will only make a decision (on support staff) when I get to Pakistan,” Arthur said.
Interestingly, Mickey Arthur has his own cricket academy in Perth.
The Academy offers high-quality innovative and age appropriate coaching based on all the fundamentals of cricket.
It has been designed to build on existing talent of the players and unearth new strengths with a specific cricket coaching programme for individuals.
“I will keep it running while I am away and let a young coach operate it,” he said.
PCB chairman confident:
Facing criticism from former players over the appointment of Arthur, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan exuded confidence that he would be successful in his mission.
Shaharyar reckoned that Mickey’s association with the Karachi Kings franchise in the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) would help him in his new assignment. “He was coach with the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, so he knows the players well. He should be successful in his assignment,” Shaharyar was quoted as saying by a news website.
Shaharyar also tried to shrug off the criticism from former Pakistan stars, who claimed that he had earlier levelled match-fixing allegations against Pakistani players. “Look Mickey Arthur has already clarified to us about that statement he made some years ago. So it is a dead issue now,” the chairman said.
(Source: The News)
(Source: The News)
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