Mickey Arthur, who recently joined the Pakistan men’s cricket team as an online consultant, will reportedly join the Men in Green permanently from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The South Africa-born coach is likely to travel to Lahore for an official visit with the players next month.
The 54-year-old recently expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the consultancy role, which also allowed him to work with Derbyshire County Club as head coach.
Speaking to BBC’s Test Match Special, Arthur said: “There would be some sort of consultancy role. It won’t be done on Zoom. I’ll get a support staff in for them and have that support staff report in to me. As soon as county season is finished, I will join up for the World Cup and tour of Australia later this year on a permanent basis.
“I worked very well with Najam Sethi when I was in Pakistan. He was the chairman of the board when I started. We had a bit of luck and won the Champions Trophy and our bond sort of grew from there. So, when he became chairman again, he wanted me to come and help him, but I said I wasn’t prepared to leave County cricket as this is where I am at my happiest.”
This will be Arthur’s second stint as Pakistan team head coach as he previously worked with Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side from 2016-2019 and under his guidance, Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, defeating India in the final.
PCB Set To Hire Morne Morkel As Bowling Coach
Apart from bringing in Mickey Arthur, the PCB has also replaced Shaun Tait with former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel as the Men in Green bowling coach. Morne Morkel will link up with Pakistan only after his stint with IPL outfit Lucknow Super Giants. South Africa great will be serving as Lucknow’s bowling coach for the upcoming edition of IPL that will finish on May 28.
Among other changes to Pakistan’s coaching staff, their former fielding coach Grant Bradburn will be the head coach while Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist) and Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning) will continue with their jobs.