Former head coach Mickey Arthur has been appointed as the Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed. Arthur has been assigned the task of creating, executing, and overseeing the strategies utilized by the men’s team of Pakistan. He will additionally function as a part of the coaching personnel for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, as well as for the series at home versus West Indies and the overseas tour of Australia. Additionally, he will be with the team when Pakistan played India in the ACC Asia Cup.
Arthur, who had previously served as the coach of the national team from 2016 to 2019, has returned to the team at a crucial juncture with the upcoming Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. He expressed his delight at rejoining the Pakistan cricket team and eagerly anticipated collaborating with the squad. Arthur stated that the team possessed exceptional talent, with the potential to attain the number one spot across all formats, and outlined his plans to develop strategies and create an environment that would aid in enhancing their performances, enabling the team to achieve their full potential.
Najam Sethi, who serves as the Chair of PCB Management Committee, extended a warm welcome to Arthur upon his return to the team. As per reports, Arthur had previously served as the coach of Sri Lanka and subsequently held the position of head of cricket at Derbyshire after concluding his coaching tenure with Pakistan. Sethi expressed his satisfaction at Mickey’s return and outlined the enhanced responsibilities he would be undertaking, which involved formulating and executing strategies for the upcoming engagements across all formats. The Chairman added that since Arthur had previously resided and worked in Pakistan, he possessed a thorough understanding of the current players, the structure, and the system. Sethi expressed confidence that Arthur would build upon his learnings from the previous tenure to ensure an even more successful second term.
The appointment of Arthur is seen as a significant move by the PCB, as it aims to strengthen the team’s performances across all formats of the game. Arthur’s previous stint with the national team was successful, with Pakistan winning the Champions Trophy in 2017 and climbing to the top of the ICC Test rankings for the first time in its history. Arthur’s experience in international cricket coaching and his familiarity with the Pakistani team and its players are expected to be an asset in his new role. His main responsibilities will include developing strategies and tactics for the upcoming tours, identifying and nurturing young talent, and improving the overall performance of the team.
Pakistan is set to play a number of crucial series in the coming months, including the Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The team will also face tough opponents like Australia and the West Indies in home and away tours. With Arthur’s appointment, the PCB hopes to capitalize on the potential of the talented squad and build a team that can compete with the best in the world.
