It's A Shame That The Best Ones Don't Want To Come- Misbah-ul-Haq On Mickey Arthur’s Appointment As Online Coach

Published - 02 Feb 2023, 05:12 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

Mickey Arthur (PC-Getty)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee is likely to appoint the former head coach Mickey Arthur as the online coach and finalize the contract in the next two weeks. Former Pakistan cricketer Mishbah-ul-Haq has slammed the PCB for appointing Mickey Arthur as an online coach, calling it a “slap on Pakistan cricket.”

After Pakistan’s 3-0 loss in the three-match series against England last year, Pakistan’s cricket body underwent wholesale changes, with Rameez Raja sacked as chairman and Najam Sethi taking over. Sethi appointed former cricketer Shahid Afridi as the interim chief selector of the men’s cricket team, but later replaced him with Haroon Rashid.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mickey Arthur [Image- Geo]

According to reports, Arthur is expected to rejoin the Pakistan men’s cricket team as their director of cricket, and the position of head coach might be terminated. Arthur has a long-term contract with Derbyshire, and he doesn’t want to leave the County. He will not travel with the Pakistani team on every tour, but manages the operations.

I Blame Our Own System – Misbah-ul-Haq

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Misbah-ul-Haq said that it is a slap on the Pakistan cricket system as they have not yet found a high-profile full-time coach. Misbah said that there is something wrong with the country’s cricket system because the best people do not want to come.

“It’s a slap on our cricket system that we are not able to find a high-profile full-time coach. It’s a shame that the best ones do not want to come and we insist on having someone who is looking at Pakistan as a second option,” Misbah said.

“I blame our own system, which is vulnerable enough with so many weak lines for anyone to exploit it. We are to be blamed ourselves that we have disrespected and discredited our own people to make a bad image,” he added.

Arthur previously worked as the coach of the Pakistan national cricket team from 2016 to 2019. The PCB decided not to renew the contract of Arthur after the side failed to qualify for the playoffs at the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. During his tenure as coach, Pakistan won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England and climbed to the top of the ICC T20I Team Rankings.

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