The 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is ready to begin in less than 20 days. Talking about the teams’ positions ahead of the upcoming Cricket World Cup, many experts have put the unpredictable tag on the 1992 World Cup winners Pakistan. However, Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur isn’t happy with this tag.
Pakistan’s recent performances in international cricket are not so impressive. From the Asia Cup 2018, Pakistan has won only five matches out of their 20 ODIs. During this period, Pakistan suffered 13 defeats, and the other two had no results.
However, many experts believe that Pakistan can back on track at the right time during the forthcoming Cricket World Cup. Especially, their recent successes in England have put them into the unpredictable category for the upcoming Cricket World Cup. Pakistan surprised many cricket experts by winning the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales.
Pakistan are going to be in the top four because of the work we’ve put in, in their skills – Mickey Arthur
But Mickey Arthur is not happy with the unpredictable tag. He believes that they have the quality to reach the semi-finals of the upcoming Cricket World Cup.
Arthur recently told in a video chat that was posted by PCB, “Unpredictable – that’s a word that us as coaching staff hate.
“You read all the previews now, they say Pakistan are going to be in the top four because of their unpredictability. I say no. Pakistan are going to be in the top four because of the work we’ve put in, in their skills.”
There is a structure – Mickey Arthur about the Pakistan team
In the Asia Cup 2018 in UAE, Pakistan won only two matches and finished their journey in the Super Four stage. Arch-rival India beat them in both meetings while Bangladesh also beat them by 37 runs (in Super Four stage).
Then Pakistan had a 1-1 result in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in UAE. Later, in the five-match ODI series against the host side South Africa, Pakistan lost by the 3-2 margin.
In last March, the inexperienced-Pakistan side lost the five-match ODI series against Australia in UAE by the 5-0 margin.
Currently, Pakistan national cricket team is busy in the five-match ODI series against the host side England. After the first two matches of this series, England is leading by 1-0. On last Saturday (11th May), Pakistan suffered a narrow defeat (by 12 runs) against England in the high-scoring Southampton ODI. Chasing down the 374 runs target, the visiting side managed to score 361/7 in 50 overs.
Though Pakistan hasn’t achieved much success in recent international cricket, Arthur is happy with their World Cup preparation.
He added, “We’ve got their good and bad a lot closer together, because we’re playing a more consistent brand of cricket. We’re training well, we’re going through their routines well, there’s a structure. And with structure and clarity comes less of that unpredictability tag. We know that on our day we can beat anybody, it’s us finding that little key ingredient that makes our players believe.”
The PCB have put together this fantastic slogan – We have, we will: Mickey Arthur
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has put a united slogan for the team ahead of the Cricket World Cup, which is “We have, we will”. Arthur has been impressed with this slogan.
He said, “The PCB have put together this fantastic slogan – We have, we will. We have won, we have shown success, we tend to rise to the big occasion, and we will.”
England and Wales are ready to host the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup from 30th May to 14th July. Pakistan will begin their World Cup journey on 31st May when they will play against Windies at Trent Bridge.