Finding my way with the ODI team – Mickey Arthur
Sep 2, 2016 at 9:15 PM
For any coach, monitoring and coaching Pakistan is far from an easy task. The team is constantly riddled with administrative issues and internal ego issues between the members. Despite Pakistan’s test outfit reaching the pinnacle of test rankings, the same cannot be said about their ODI side. Despite having the services of a few talented individuals, Pakistan’s ODI side is in a complete mess.
Their ongoing ODI series in England simply worsened as they lost yet another match. With the series already gone, the fourth ODI offered some redemption for the Pakistanis and that was a chance gone begging. After the loss in the fourth ODI, head coach Mickey Arthur mentioned that he was still finding his way with the ODI team.
“I want to give guys opportunities and then we’ll know by the end of the tour who we can and can’t take forward,” Arthur said. “Irfan was a player of interest and I wanted to have a look at him go. Inzi (chief selector Inzamam Ul Haq) and myself have developed a really good relationship. We speak a hell of a lot. I spent probably 40 minutes on the phone to him yesterday just discussing where we were and possible names who could come in in positions I’ve identified. What I am finding out is who can do a job and who can’t.”
The South African however, admitted that their opponents were a far superior team. “England are a phenomenal cricket team, power hitters all the way down, we haven’t been able to get quick starts and clear the ropes,” he mentioned. “We just don’t have the players to do that within our group of 15 at the moment. Those are things we need to address and bear in mind for the next series. It also gives me an opportunity to decide who we take forward and how we play our cricket. With every game, that becomes clearer and clearer.”
Arthur added that for exiled but talented individuals like Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad to come back, they would have to show some discipline. “They have to conform. You would like to think, and I’ve never worked with Umar so it’s all hearsay for me, that he’s learnt a lesson,” Arthur said. “I haven’t had any conversations with him yet. He’s a very good finisher. His form in the local T20 competition is very good so he’s putting his hand up and he’s going about his business in a fairly good way. But in terms of other off-field stuff, that will be decided at a later date and we’ll never compromise.”