• Home
  • Who Said What
  • They Shoot Themselves In The Foot Mickey Arthur Speaks On Pakistan Crickets Internal Struggles

'They Shoot Themselves In The Foot,' Mickey Arthur Speaks On Pakistan Cricket's Internal Struggles

image-lrbq7oyxArthur spoke about PCB's negative culture (x.com)

In a recent interview, former Pakistan cricket team director, Mickey Arthur, candidly expressed his views on the challenges plaguing Pakistan cricket. Following a stint as the head coach, Arthur returned to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in April, initially taking on the role of team director. 

However, after the ICC World Cup 2023, he found himself downgraded and ultimately removed, along with fellow coaches Grant Bradburn and Andrew Puttick.

Arthur, known for his impactful coaching during the 2017 Champions Trophy, did not mince his words when addressing the issues within Pakistan cricket. He attributed the struggles to a lack of stability, continuity, and proper direction within the cricketing ecosystem.

"When I sat down with Inzi (Inzamam Ul Haq), with whom I share a fantastic working relationship, to choose a team and subsequently conveyed this to the players, they understood the presence of a reliable structure," Arthur remarked in an interview with Wisden. 

He emphasized the importance of trust in the process, pointing out that a consistent and stable approach allowed players to focus on team goals rather than individual concerns.

The legendary coach expressed frustration with the constant changes and instability in the team management, stating, "If it’s constant change and instability, players go into self-protection mode, and they end up playing for themselves, just focusing on the next tour."

Arthur highlighted the abundance of talent in Pakistan's domestic cricket and lamented the missed opportunities for its proper utilisation. He mentioned a high-performance structure that was planned but got lost with changes in chairmanship, terming it "very disappointing."

“Domestically there’s so much talent out there," Arthur emphasized. "I still think Pakistan cricket shoots itself in the foot and could be better."

Reflecting on his tenure from 2016 to 2019, Arthur acknowledged the positive impact of then-chairman Najam Sethi, creating an environment where players trusted the process. However, he observed a stark contrast after changes in leadership, leading to a lack of honest communication and perpetual uncertainty.

Despite the challenges, Arthur expressed optimism about Pakistan cricket's potential improvement. He called for a good structure, strong leadership, and a commitment to continuity and sustainability. The seasoned coach remains hopeful that with the right measures in place, Pakistan Cricket can overcome its internal struggles and thrive in the modern era.