Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur stated the national chief selector of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Inzamam-Ul-Haq, is expecting the same from the players on the basis of fitness while speaking about the issue for the first time after the dramatic exit of Umar Akmal on the basis of poor fitness.
“Inzi [Inzamam] has bought into exactly what we want to do so there’s no disconnect between us at all, we are on the same page,” Arthur was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
The 49-year-old Johannesburg-born Arthur further insisted there is no split with Pakistan’s former skipper Inzamam over the fitness after unfit Umar Akmal’s untimely exit prior to the ICC Champions Trophy created chaos and confusion among die-hard back home in Pakistan.
“In terms of that test, I’m not sure how that happened,” Arthur maintained.
The right-handed batsman Umar failed to make to the Windies tour due to the fitness issues as the reports earlier revealed it was Inzamam, who asked to conduct a test of the latter at National Academy Lahore under his supervision, as he was willing to send the talented batsman to England and Wales for the multilateral event.
“[Umar] Akmal being dropped is a reprimand and it’s a major blow for any player. He is a good player, we needed him, but we had to take a decision,” Inzamam said on Umar.
However, while speaking about the issue, Arthur stated there would be no compromise on the fitness standard as he believes the management is playing a crucial role – to keep the standard of the game high and expect the best results from the players on the field.
“We were always going to test the guys here so every guy who is now here is fine,” Arthur further added.
However, Umar was sent back, when Arthur monitored his activities during the training camp in Birmingham after Pakistan’s half of the 15-member squad came from the Caribbean series.
“Inzi and myself are on exactly the same page,” Arthur asserted.
The reports further revealed Umar failed as many as two fitness Tests before being sent back to home which further saw left-handed batsman Haris Sohail as his replacement.
While taking a dig at Umar, Arthur revealed he was expecting the latter would be going hard at the things after missing out on Windies tour.
“It was incredibly disappointing with Umar Akmal because he didn’t tour West Indies for the same reason. I would have thought in that month that he would have done something,” Arthur further said.
Arthur revealed the team is working hard on the fitness – to improve the quality in fielding too which plays a significant role in the modern-day cricket.
“It’s one the things we work tirelessly on and we are going in the right direction,” Arthur stated.
Following the poor performance from the players, Pakistan Cricket Board had set a bench while asking its players to meet the required standard of fitness while adding they are trying to enhance the fielding owing to the commitment and dedication.
“It doesn’t happen overnight. The standards are going to go up and up,” Arthur concluded.
Pakistan is getting ready and had a rigorous training session in Cardiff ahead of the virtual quarter-final against Sri Lanka on Monday (June 11), as both the teams came from emphatic wins over two formidable sides.