The idea of seeing the development of the young prospects he first fostered back in 2016 into imposing men of stature excites seasoned cricketing coach Mickey Arthur. In his capacity as the Pakistani squad’s director of cricket, a position he took up in April of this year, Arthur set out on a quest to change the way the team played.
As Pakistan introduces its version of “Bazball,” a style that England has used with surprising success in Test cricket, the art of cricketing reinvention is in full swing. The Men in Green will adopt an extremely aggressive strategy under the South African coach, taking cues from their World Cup competitors while incorporating their distinct Pakistani flair.
Just before their World Cup opening against the Netherlands in Hyderabad, the 55-year-old’s vision was presented, and it reverberates with assurance. By adopting a kind of cricket akin to the swashbuckling tactics seen from teams like England and Australia, he sees the 1992 champions winning a second championship.
“The athletes have accepted it. It will take some time, but as they say, there are always two ways to skin a cat. There is no question in my mind. They are capable of performing it. However, we play a style that we refer to as the Pakistani method. We are playing a brand that is quite unique to Pakistan and works well for our squad. You see this type of cricket being played between England and Australia. The New Indian Express cited Mickey Arthur as stating, “Our guys will follow that.
Pakistan’s rapid ascent in cricket thanks to Mickey Arthur
Mickey Arthur is prepared to offer his guidance to Pakistan’s future series against Australia (December 2023) and the West Indies (February 2024) as part of his dedication to the cause that goes beyond the World Cup. At the 2023 World Cup, his participation will be especially anticipated during the matchup with India, their bitter rivals.
The former head coach of Derbyshire, whose previous tenure with Pakistan (2016–2019) saw a swift rise in rankings and a successful Champions Trophy campaign in 2017, chose a new challenge with Derbyshire, turning down the opportunity to return to the head coach role in January 2023 by committing to a long-term contract extension with the county side.
India
