Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur is confident about Pakistan in this coming World Cup after their latest series defeat against England last Sunday.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur is confident his team is ready for the 2019 Cricket World Cup after their defeat against England who won by 54-run yesterday at Headingley, England.
“I’m as confident we’ll do well as I’ve ever been,” he said after their match against England yesterday.
The Pakistan coach compared this experience with their humiliating 124 run-opening defeat against India at the 2017 Champions League where they eventually defeated their rival in the finals.
“We were beaten hands down at Edgbaston that day and I didn’t really know where to turn because there wasn’t a hell of a lot of positives out of that day,” he said regarding their loss to India in Birmingham on 2017.
“The (other) thing is we’ve played against a team who are number one in the world in their own conditions,” said Arthur who was adamant their series against World Cup favourites helped Pakistan. “I know there’s not too many teams who will arrive in England as prepared as we are in terms of the competition we’ve played against and match-fitness.”
“All I know is the players are very determined to do well. Every time they go out there they play for 210 million people,” added Arthur, explaining they will be ready in their first game against West Indies.
In the meantime, the coach explained Pakistan’s left-arm quick Mohammad Amir who was sidelined due to chicken pox, could make it to the final 15-man squad for the World Cup.
“Mohammad Amir trained yesterday (Saturday). He had 25 minutes on a bike and a gym session. He had another one today (Sunday) so if selected he’d be ready to go.”
“We’ve got until May 23 to get our team in,” Arthur further explained their squad for the tournament will be finalized today when he and Pakistani selection chief Inzamam-ul-Haq decides.
Pakistan’s latest series against England showed drop routine catches and give away runs with sloppy outfielding compared to their improved fielding last year. However, Arthur insisted it was not due to their previous fielding coach Steve Rixon, the former Australia wicket-keeper for quitting last September over a pay dispute.
The Pakistan coach admitted he was worried about his players’ fielding but they are all putting a lot of effort into practicing.
“Fielding is about attitude and wanting to get out there and get it done,” Arthur continued. “They (the players) know they’ve been short in this department and they are not happy about it. They are working damn hard at it.”
The ICC Cricket World Cup runs from May 30 to July 14. Pakistan will be competing against West Indies in the second match on May 31.
