The saying in cricket and life “Why change something which dont requires any change” is becoming true and evident when we see the current plight of Pakistan cricket. With their complete coaching staff including 2017 Champions Trophy winning coach Mickey Arthur , who returned to his second string as Director for the World Cup 2023 had a dismal and torrid time as the Pakistan team under Babar Azam in the conditions similar to their own backyard in India exited in the round robin matches itself finishing 5th with only 4 wins to their name.
The most shocking was Pakistan lost to Afghanistan team which created huge ruckus amongst the team as well and it was evident that travel from Mumbai to Lahore wont be an easy travel for Mickey Arthur and company of bowling coaches like Morne Morkel and and supporting staff with the likes of Grant Bradburn .
Mickey Arthur’s snub sans dismal performance in World Cup 2023.
After Grant Bradburn ended his tenure with the PCB, Mickey Arthur and Andrew Puttick have also resigned from their respective posts at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. All three were given a new portfolio after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Arthur had joined as director of the Pakistan men’s team in April 2023, while Bradburn and Puttick were appointed head coach and batting coach respectively.
“All three individuals informed the Pakistan Cricket Board of their decision to leave their respective jobs by the end of January 2024. The decision was taken amicably between all the stakeholders,”
Arthur will continue in his role as Derbyshire’s head coach, a job he juggled with his duties with the Pakistan team. Last week, Bradburn signed a three-year deal as Glamorgan’s Head Coach and Puttick as Afghanistan’s batting coach.
After Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup, all three were in limbo as the PCB’s temporary management committee lacked the authority to relieve them from their duties. They have had their roles reassigned and none of them travelled with the team for their recent Test tour of Australia, with Mohammad Hafeez acting as both Team Director and Head Coach, and Adam Hollioake as batting coach. Pakistan lost all three Tests there followed by 4 -1 loss to New Zealand in T20I series in New Zealand.
There’s a massive amount of talent in Pakistan- Mickey Arthur
Former Pakistan team director, Mickey Arthur, recently said that due to instability in the set-up, the Men in Green have been playing only for their place in the team, leading to a massive decline in team performances. There has been a massive shift in the overall structure of the team, with a completely revamped coaching staff as well as new captains.
Mohammad Hafeez took charge of the side as team director following the exit of Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn after Pakistan’s exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Mickey Arthur emphasized that players tend to be selfish when there is a general air of insecurity surrounding the team and labelled such a situation as ‘dangerous’.
“When there’s security within the environment, Pakistan is very good. When there’s that insecurity, players start playing for themselves instead of the team because they’re thinking of the next tour, and the next contract. That’s a dangerous place to be in, and that’s kind of where Pakistan cricket is now. And that’s something that’s very disappointing and sad for me,” Arthur said in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo.
Mickey Arthur, who has been involved with Pakistan cricket across multiple coaching stints, highlighted that the team’s set-up lacks the appropriate layout and planning to hone the promising talent.
“There’s a massive amount of talent there, There are some world-class players, not just talented players. They’re not given the support structure that they need to flourish,” he added.
Mohammad Hafeez recently blamed the players for their lack of focus and their upcoming franchise T20 assignments for their series defeats in Australia and New Zealand.
I think Pakistan cricket is in a very disappointing place exclaims Mickey Arthur.
Despite the bitter end to their association, the partnership between Mickey Arthur and Pakistan Cricket had its moments, especially during the veteran coach’s first stint as coach with the team. He had guided Pakistan to a famous triumph in the 2017 Champions Trophy, and the team also soared in Test and T20I rankings during his tenure.
“I still follow Pakistan cricket and I’ll always follow it. But the vigour and thirst and passion I have for Pakistan cricket waned a little bit after that. To be brutally honest, I think Pakistan cricket is in a very disappointing place,” the veteran coach concluded.
Pakistan have a lot of issues to sort out ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup especially with newly appointed T20I skipper, Shaheen Afridi, finishing his first ever series as leader with a 1-4 defeat against New Zealand.