Tag: Mickey Arthur

  • ‘Like living under Covid’, say Pakistan due to ‘stifling’ World Cup security

    ‘Like living under Covid’, say Pakistan due to ‘stifling’ World Cup security

    Players are not allowed to venture out of their hotel without heavy security, forcing them to spend most of time in rooms

    Pakistani cricketers present in India for the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 feel confined like they are back into COVID era due to the tight security that team director Mickey Arthur described as “stifling”.

    Arthur’s comments came a day ahead of the team’s crucial match against New Zealand which Pakistan must win to keep their hopes alive of reaching the semi-finals.

    Several Pakistan players have already suffered fever and flu at various stages of the tournament which fast bowler Hasan Ali attributed to “room sickness”.

    Players are not allowed to venture out of their hotel without heavy security, forcing them to spend most of their time in hotel rooms.

    “As a Pakistan team, we play a hell of a lot of cricket so being on the road is nothing new for these guys,” Arthur said.

    “What has been tough is the fact that we’ve been under a massive amount of security. So, I’ve been sort of taken aback.

    “I found it difficult. It’s almost like we’ve been back in the COVID times, where you were almost secluded to your floor and your team room.

    “So much so that their breakfast is in a separate room to everybody else. That’s been the tough aspect.”

    Pakistan are playing a tournament in India for the first time since 2016.

    Arthur said that outside of playing and training, the team have not had many outings since their arrival in the last week of September.

    “The boys are used to being on the road but when they’re on the road, they’ve still been able to get out and go and have meals, for example, at different places, and get out on their own accord.

    ‘It’s been tough’ 

    “We haven’t been able to do that this time. And that’s been tough. That has been quite stifling.”

    Arthur said no decision has been made yet on all-rounder Shadab Khan’s participation in the remaining matches after he suffered a concussion against South Africa.

    “Shadab went through a preliminary test today,” said Arthur.

    “He came through that OK, but we’re in no position yet to make a decision on him.”

    This was Shadab’s third concussion, having collided with a Sussex team-mate in a Twenty20 match in the UK in May 2023 and at the Asia Cup last year.

    Meanwhile, Arthur admitted Pakistan have not played up to their potential in India.

    “I’ll be brutally honest, I don’t think we’ve played to our full potential in this tournament yet. I thought the Bangladesh game was the first game where we actually put a complete game together.”

    Pakistan beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in Kolkata on Tuesday, their third win in seven games.

    They now not only need to beat New Zealand on Saturday and defending champions England (Kolkata on November 11) but also hope other results go their way.

    “We got ourselves into a position before the Bangladesh game where it was kind of out of our hands and it’s come back in a funny way into our hands again,” said Arthur.

    Arthur admitted South Africa’s 190-run defeat of New Zealand on Wednesday has handed them a lifeline.

    “South Africa did us a little bit of a favour as well so it’s kind of pushed it back into our hands, albeit a long shot and we need to win big in both our remaining matches,” he said.

  • ‘Unfair to blame Babar and Inzamam’: Mickey Arthur

    ‘Unfair to blame Babar and Inzamam’: Mickey Arthur

    Pakistan Cricket Team Director Mickey Arthur has said, “We did not play well in this tournament, but it will not be right to blame Babar Azam, Inzamam, or anyone, I know the players and staff tried their best.”

    Mickey Arthur said that he is proud of the best bowling of the tournament, proud of the way the bowlers fought back hard. “Everyone is trying but our batting is not coming into form.”

    He said “We improved our bowling today, but could not score runs in the batting, and could not play the last five overs properly, if we had made 300, could have defended it.”

    Mickey Arthur said that the team did not play the quality of cricket that is required in the World Cup. “Against Afghanistan, we were average in all three areas.”

    He said that he will try to finish the tournament in a good way by winning the remaining three matches.

  • ICC may review Mickey Arthur’ comment ‘bilateral series’ after match against India

    ICC may review Mickey Arthur’ comment ‘bilateral series’ after match against India

    International Cricket Council (ICC) may take action against Pakistan’s cricket team’s director Mickey Arthur for his comment referring to “bilateral series” after match between Pakistan and India.

    During a press conference on Saturday after the match between Pakistan and India, Mickey Arthur said, “Today’s match looked like a BCCI event not ICC, I didn’t hear “Dil dil Pakistan” coming through the microphones too often tonight”.

    ICC chairman Greg Barclay was attending a session of the International Olympic committee in Mumbai where he voted for inclusion of T20 cricket in Olympics 2028. He reportedly asked about Mickey Arthur’s comments.

    “Every event that we have, there’s always criticisms from various quarters,” Barclay said, adding that “Perhaps we’ll take away and try to work on, try to do better, so this event’s only the start. Let’s see how the whole thing plays out and we will go away and we will review what could change, what we can do better than this, how we can improve World Cups, and the general offering around cricket.”

    Barclay stressed that he was satisfied that the tournament will still be an “outstanding” World Cup.

  • ‘Today’s match looked like a BCCI event, not ICC’: Mickey Arthur

    ‘Today’s match looked like a BCCI event, not ICC’: Mickey Arthur

    Pakistan cricket team director Mickey Arthur has said after his team’s defeat by India, “Today’s match was not an International Cricket Council (ICC) event but looked like a home event of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). I didn’t hear “Dil Dil Pakistan” coming through the microphones too often tonight.”

    The coach was referring to an anthem, sang by Vital Signs, that Pakistani fans sing at all their team matches.

    While addressing a press conference after the match, Mickey Arthur said” We did not play well today, getting out for 155 to 191 is not fair, it was a big match, we could have done better on this wicket”.

    He said “India bowled well, we could have counter-pressured but today we could not play according to the Pakistan way”. He said the team goes into the field to win every match.”Past records are only played in the media. Its a long World Cup, we win two out of three matches,” adding that the team will focus on the next match with patience.

    He was hopeful to play the final with this team, trying to give confidence to Shadab and Nawaz.

    It should be noted that in the biggest match of the ICC Cricket World Cup, India easily defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets.

  • New appointments in Pakistan men’s team selection committee

    New appointments in Pakistan men’s team selection committee

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee has confirmed three new appointments in the men’s team selection committee ahead of two international mega-events, Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023.

    These selection committee changes will create an impact on the team’s current performance and the current squad as many changes in the squad are expected upon the arrival of director Mickey Arthur.

    The new selection committee comprises Haroon Rashid (chair), Hassan Cheema (selection committee secretary and manager analytics and team strategy for national men’s side), Mickey Arthur (national men’s team’s director), and Grant Bradburn (national men’s team’s head coach).

    Mickey Arthur previously served Pakistan as head coach in Champion’s Trophy 2017, which Pakistan won and in the 2019 World Cup.

    The presence of Cheema, who has worked as strategy manager and data analyst in franchise cricket around the world, Arthur, and Bradburn will aid in strategising for the ipcoming series, enhance the bench strength and provide a proper pathway to performing players in Shaheens and U19 sides to graduate to the national side.

    The first task of the selection committee is to name the players for the fast and spin bowling camps next month in Lahore, which will be announced in due course.

  • Mickey Arthur set to return as Pakistan’s cricket team head coach, hints Najam Sethi

    Mickey Arthur set to return as Pakistan’s cricket team head coach, hints Najam Sethi

    Mickey Arthur is set to return as Pakistan men cricket team’s head coach for the second time, PCB’s Chairman Najam Sethi hinted on Monday.

    The South African will replace Saqlain Mushtaq whose contract expires next month.

    However, Mickey Arthur’s contract as head coach is still being negotiated. Talking about the hiring, Najam Sethi said at a press conference, “I am personally in negotiations with Mickey and we have resolved 90% of issues,” adding that he has appointed former Test cricketer Haroon Rasheed as the new chief selector, replacing former all-rounder Shahid Afridi who held the post on an interim basis.

    “Hopefully, we will very soon share the news that Mickey will be joining us and I’d like him to build his own team of coaches once he is here,” Sethi told the members of the press.

    Formerly the coach for South Africa, Australia and Sri Lanka, Arthur was in charge of the Pakistan team from 2016 to 2019 when the team won the 2017 Champions Trophy and became the top-ranked T20 team in the world.

    The Johannesburg-born 54-year-old currently has a long-term contract with Derbyshire.

  • ‘I’d pick Mohammad Amir in every white ball game I’d coach’: Mickey Arthur

    ‘I’d pick Mohammad Amir in every white ball game I’d coach’: Mickey Arthur

    Former Pakistan Cricket Team coach Mickey Arthur, in an interview, talked about Mohammad Amir’s skills and experience, saying: “I definitely think that Amir has got a future in middle of his career. I still think that he is one of the best white ball bowlers around at the moment.”

    Appreciating Amir’s courage, he said, “The one thing I do like about Aamir is when there is a tough situation he wants the ball he doesn’t shy away from the tough situations.”

    “His execution is good. He still has got enough pace. He is a wise, more experienced player,” said Arthur.

    Concluding his remarks, he said, ”I would have Amir in any white ball cricket team that I coach.”

    Read more – Kyun Nikala?: ‘Misbah Saab he bataa saktay hain,’ says Mohammad Amir

    In a response to Mickey’s remarks, Amir replied in a tweet, “Thanks coach I would love to play under your coaching anywhere in the world.”

    It is pertinent to add here that Amir was dropped from the 35-member squad, which is currently touring New Zealand. Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq, explaining the decision said: “[Shoaib]Malik and Amir are not part of the white-ball matches as for this tour we have opted to invest, develop and focus on the promising and emerging players who are likely to be available to Pakistan for all formats.”

    John Michael “Mickey” Arthur was the coach of Pakistan Cricket Team from 2016 to 2019. He is the currently the Head Coach of the Sri Lanka national cricket team as of December 2019.

  • Sri Lanka appoints Mickey Arthur as head coach ahead of Pakistan visit

    Sri Lanka appoints Mickey Arthur as head coach ahead of Pakistan visit

    Sri Lanka have appointed South African Mickey Arthur as their new head coach on a two-year contract before the team’s tour to Pakistan for the two-Test match series, BBC reported.

    According to the details, Sri Lanka cricket (SLC) appointed Mickey as head coach and former fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake as interim coach in August after a fallout with coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who was criticized for Sri Lanka’s exit at the group stage of the 50-over World Cup in England.

    Arthur had been the head coach of Pakistan cricket team for three years from 2016 to 2019. Later in Ausgust, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided not to renew his contract, after the country failed to reach the semi-finals of this summer’s World Cup.

    PCB later appointed former captain Misbahul Haq as the cricket team’s head coach and chief selector.

    Arthur said: “It had been three very good years with Pakistan and I needed a little bit of time away. The Sri Lankan job became available and I started discussions”.

    “I looked at the talent that’s available and that’s the key motivating factor – to help these young players fulfil their potential”, Mickey added.

    Mickey Arthur’s first assignment will see him return to Pakistan for a two-match Test series starting on 11 December.

  • PCB sacks Mickey Arthur as head coach

    PCB sacks Mickey Arthur as head coach

    The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced its decision to not renew the contracts of head coach Mickey Arthur, bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, batting coach Grant Flower and trainer Grant Luden.

    The board’s decision to end its association with the team’s coaching staff comes following a review process undertaken in the aftermath of the 2019 World Cup, where Pakistan even failed to reach the semi-finals.

    “I am thankful to the PCB Cricket Committee for submitting their recommendations following an exhaustive and detailed review process. The committee comprised of individuals who possess tremendous acumen, experience and knowledge,” PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani, who approved the changes, was quoted as saying.

    “The unanimous recommendation of the committee was that it was time for new leadership and a fresh approach. I am happy to accept their strong recommendations.”

    “On behalf of the PCB, I want to sincerely thank Mickey Arthur, Grant Flower, Grant Luden and Azhar Mahmood for their hard work and unwavering commitment during their tenures with the national men’s team. We wish them every success in their future endeavors,” the press release read.

    According to BBC, Mickey Arthur is one of the names being considered as a replacement for England team coach Trevor Bayliss when the latter leaves at the end of summer.

  • ‘Last Sunday I wanted to commit suicide,’ Pakistan head coach talks about World Cup pressure

    ‘Last Sunday I wanted to commit suicide,’ Pakistan head coach talks about World Cup pressure

    Head coach of the national cricket team, Mickey Arthur, has said Pakistan’s defeat against arch-rivals India was so painful that it left him “wanting to commit suicide”, Khaleej Times reported.

    “Last Sunday I wanted to commit suicide. But it was, you know, only one performance,” he was quoted as saying.

    Pakistan faced a humiliating 89-run defeat against India in Manchester on June 16, a result which sparked a furious backlash as the country’s hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals were put in grave danger.

    “It happens so quick. You lose a game; you lose another game; it’s a World Cup; media scrutiny; public expectation and then you almost go into sort of survival mode. We’ve all been there,” Arthur said.

    While the head coach’s emotional comment may have been exaggerated to show how passionate he is about his job, some believed it was in bad taste considering former coach Bob Woolmer’s sudden death after Pakistan suffered a bruising defeat against Ireland during the 2007 World Cup.

    Pakistan lifted Arthur’s spirits with an impressive 49-run win against South Africa at Lord’s on Sunday. They now need to win their remaining three matches and improve their inferior net run-rate to have a chance of advancing to the semi-finals.

    Pakistan play New Zealand in Birmingham on Wednesday.