ISLAMABAD –Newly-appointed Pakistan cricket teamcoach Mickey Arthur has said that he will not compromise on discipline,fitness and fielding standards during his time with Pakistani Cricket Team.
Arthur was appointed coach last week, filling the position vacated by Waqar Younis in April, 2016. “I will be tough on discipline and that’s the way we can getbetter and better results,” he was quoted as saying by ESPN cricinfo website on Tuesday. “I want everybody to start playing for the team and I don’twant any selfish players around,” he added.
“Our bowling is good, but we need to lift our battingmassively. I will also be tough on fielding and fitness, and needplayers who can play long-term, and these issues are non-negotiable,” he said.It is pertinent to mention here that discipline and fitness have been problem areas for Pakistani team, which has slipped down the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings in limited-overs cricket.
Earlier this month, two players, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal were left out ofthe training camp for the England tour on disciplinary grounds. Waqar’s report following Pakistan’s early exit from the World Twenty20 (WT20) had also highlighted concerns around Shehzad’s and Akmal’s attitudes, and the former coach had suggested that the pair should be made to re-earn their place in the national squad with performances in domestic cricket.
Ranked No. 9 in One Day Internationals (ODIs) after the ICC’s annual update, Pakistan has won only three bilateral series in the format since December2013, of which two were against Zimbabwe. They were quarter-finalists in the 2015 World Cup but suffered earlyexits in the 2016 WT20 and the Asia Cup in February this year. They are currently ranked No 7 in T20Is.
The team will travel to England and Ireland in July and September, where they are scheduled to play four Test Matches, five ODIs and one T20I against England, and two one-day matches against Ireland. Arthur admitted the conditions would challenge the Pakistani 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.”