In an interview with a local TV channel, Pakistan’s team director, Mickey Arthur, provided insights into the selection of players from Pakistan for the upcoming 2023 Asia Cup and World Cup tournaments.
When asked about the future prospects of players like Imad Wasim, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir, Haris Sohail, and Umar Akmal in Pakistan’s One-Day International (ODI) team, Arthur acknowledged that a few players from this group have recently shown promise. However, he refrained from mentioning any specific names.
Arthur revealed that Pakistan’s squad for the World Cup and Asia Cup would have minimal changes compared to the lineup that participated in the recent ODI series against New Zealand.
“The squad we selected for the New Zealand series is the one we will choose from for the Asia Cup and World Cup. Haris Sohail was part of that squad but didn’t play due to fitness issues. Some players have made a case for themselves recently, but the core of the squad will remain unchanged,” Arthur stated.
He emphasized the importance of providing security and clarity to the players regarding their roles in the team. Arthur expressed his intention to avoid situations where players feel uncertain about their place or play under the fear of being dropped.
“We had around 20 players in the New Zealand series, and we need to trim it down to 15. There won’t be significant differences because I believe in providing security to the players. I want them to have clarity about their positions. I don’t want them to play with insecurity,” he added.
Regarding concerns about the World Cup venue selection, Arthur expressed satisfaction, stating that there were no issues with the chosen venues. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to defeat any opponent, regardless of the venue.
“We don’t have any concerns about the venues. We have a strong enough squad to compete against any team, anywhere. I am content with the selected venues,” he affirmed.
The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match at the 2023 World Cup is scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15. Arthur anticipated the challenges of playing in front of a large crowd, especially in Ahmedabad, where Pakistani supporters might be scarce in the stands.
“We can’t control what is beyond our control. What we can control is our preparation and performance. Playing in front of 100,000 people in Ahmedabad would be tough, and the stands might not have a significant Pakistani presence. However, we will discuss this closer to the World Cup. My focus is to instill a positive mindset in my players. If we play good cricket, we can keep the stadiums quiet, and that will be our silent support,” he concluded.
