Pakistan’s newly-appointed head coach Mickey Arthur has issued a warning to his side, saying he will not compromise on discipline and will also be tough on fielding and fitness in order to bring the team back on track.
After weeks of rumbling, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Friday, appointed former South African cricketer Mickey Arthur as the successor of Waqar Younis, who stepped down from the position following a disastrous World Twenty20 campaign in India last month.
Pakistan have slipped to ninth in the latest one-day international rankings and seventh in the Twenty20 rankings. But Arthur remains adamant to get better results for the team.
Calling for proper values and boundaries, the 47-year-old said that he expects everyone to play for the team rather than being selfish, the Dawn reported.
Reflecting on the current state of the team, Arthur admitted that Pakistan's bowling department is good, but added that there is a need to lift the batting massively.
Admitting that the Pakistan coaching role is a ‘sheer challenge’, Arthur said that he is extremely excited to take over the post, which is regarded as one of the toughest and most turbulent in international cricket.
Star players Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal were earlier dropped from the national squad for the upcoming tour of England over disciplinary issues by the newly-appointed chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq.
The new head coach will take charge ahead of the Pakistan tour to England, where the two sides will play four Tests, five ODIs and one-off Twenty20 international match between July 14 and September 7.
Image: Mickey Arthur
Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
