Mickey Arthur, the current team director of the Pakistan cricket team, believes that Pakistan can win the 50-over World Cup this year to be held in India.
In an interview with Geo News, Arthur discussed at length on different issues related to Pakistan cricket.
About his dual role as Derbyshire coach and Pakistan team’s director, he said it is very much doable.
He said he was very invested in his project at Derbyshire. “I can finish the season and go to the World Cup and go on that Test tour to Australia. There's a West Indies Test tour early in the new year and then there's nothing because it's PSL. And then you know, it allows me to come back and make sure my efforts are here. So it's something that I think is very doable because of the schedules and it's something that I'm really enjoying.”
He said he has placed the whole support staff has been placed in Pakistan team’s set up by him and they are reporting to him every day.
“I'm all over them every day and I understand what's happening in the team. I have communication with the captain and with all the players every day. It’s working really well and then it also allows me to be totally hands-on once the season ends here. So as I say it's very very doable and Pakistan just became the number one ODI team in the world so things are going well.”
He said he was not satisfied with the Pakistan team’s T20 performance in the T20s against New Zealand as he was expecting to win all the games after going 2-0 up.
“But I think that they were very very good in the one-day series so I’m comfortable. Obviously, our focus is very much now on the upcoming World Cup so our focus is very much on getting that 50-over team right to make a really concerted effort and challenge at the World Cup in October.”
“I firmly believe that with the talent we have at our disposal — this is a team that can win the World Cup. I really do. I think the talent that Pakistan has is fantastic and I'm really excited to see how far they can go. But I'm also really excited to be able to play a role in those players' development.”
He said in case of cancelling of Asia Cup, the only event for Pakistan to get ready ahead of the World Cup, they have to put a whole schedule together in terms of camps as they have identified areas that need to work on, particularly through the middle-overs is the ability to play spin and ability to hit sweepers.
“We're also having a look at our finishers, guys who can come in and finish and really hit the ball out of the ground and then just continue to work on our bench strength. In terms of our bowling depth, we have got some wonderful bowlers. So, we will have camps all the way through the sort of off-period now. A lot of the players are coming over here in England to play in county cricket. Shaheen Shah Afridi will be just down the road in Nottingham, we've got Hassan Ali over at Edgbaston, and Shadab Khan will be playing for Sussex. So we've got a number of Pakistan players who are going to be playing over here which allows me to go and just catch up with them as well and just to make sure that they're doing what we want them to do and that they're all on the right track.”
However, Arthur was not impressed with the Pakistan team’s negative approach in Test cricket.
He said that the team couldn't hit the mark in the most extended cricket format when he was away.
"We got to stop playing a brand of cricket that's an attacking brand. A brand of cricket that takes the game on. A brand of cricket that allows our players to take the game on without any recriminations. We have got to allow them to take the game on without fear. We have got to put our opponents under pressure. I think Pakistan's test cricket in the last while has been very stale; it's been very vanilla. It hasn't aged. It's almost been a little bit negative -if that's the right word," Arthur said.
Moreover, the 54-year-old aims to take the team to new heights and set the world cricketing stage ablaze with their talent.
"I wanna take that away from them because of the talent they have - we can put the opposition under pressure if we fight to our ability. I will keep challenging those players to deliver on the world stage by showcasing their talent, by being brave, and really taking the game on," he further added.
About Babar Azam’s captaincy, Arthur said he met Babar when he was in Pakistan.
“I think he's doing a wonderful job and I think he has started to make that position his own. I actually think he's getting better. His batting is again going from strength to strength so I think Babar is doing a really good job at the minute.”
Arthur confirmed that he has been in contact with the former captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, after rejoining the Men in Green. Arthur and Sarfaraz have a long-standing relationship, which is why the team director reached out to him.
He said that he has spoken to Sarfaraz, but they have not discussed the 50-over World Cup yet, as there are still many players in the shake-up for the tournament.
“Look Sarfraz and I have a great relationship. I've touched base with him but as you know, there are so many people in the shake-up for the 50-over World Cup. So we haven't spoken about that explicitly at the time, but I have caught up with Sarfaraz because him and I go back a long way. We've got a really good relationship,” Arthur said.
He said he was also watching Mohammad Abbas as he's a great bowler.
“I think in certain conditions he becomes very very good so yes he will certainly be considered for selection going forward without a doubt.”
About his relationship with PCB chairman Najam Sethi, Arthur said Sethi and he go back a hell-of-a-long way.
“I wouldn't be doing this job now if it wasn't for Sethi. The relationship I have with Sethi — we've shared a lot of highs and some lows together and our relationship is exceptionally good. I think he's a wonderful man who's doing a wonderful job.”