BATH: Pakistan team head coach Mickey Arthur said on Wednesday that fielding is an important department which Sarfraz and his men are working to improve on the eve of the World Cup.

“Fielding is the area we need to keep working on. We had a fielding session today during which the fielders did well and they are confident. There is no substitute for hard work; fielding is [all about] confidence. We have prioritised fielding, and we certainly want to go into the World Cup really well [prepared],” Arthur said in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from the Bath Cricket Club ground where Pakistan team trained on Wednesday.

“The key for us [in this regard] is to put our key fielders in important positions.”

Apart from a toothless bowling show, fielding was the other area in which Sarfraz Ahmed and his men blundered every now and then during the five ODIs against England, at times dropping even regulation catches at crucial junctures.

Head coach says Amir bowled for half an hour without any trouble

While acknowledging that bowling department also needs improvement ahead of the World Cup, Arthur said batting did unexpectedly well in the recently-concluded ODI series in England which the hosts won 4-0.

“[Despite the series loss] there were so many positives for us in the England series to move on. Our batting has been unbelievably well. It is in good order,” the head coach added.

“We have been speaking about our [batsmen’s] strike-rates for ages and this matter has been talked about much. It was said that this Pakistan side is a 280-290 team. However, our batsmen took the responsibility and performed exceptionally well in the England series, accumulating 340 or more thrice, and then reached 297 after being three down for six runs. They have realized that they need to up their strike-rates and need to move with the times in terms of how they bat and I am incredibly confident now that our boys can go out there and do the job,” Arthur continued.

“We can chase as well as set [big targets] so I sit here comfortable with batting department.”

Commenting on paceman Mohammad Amir, who had been sidelined earlier due to chickenpox, Arthur said the left-armer had a good workout on Wednesday.

“Amir went very well today, he bowled for 30 minutes. He also featured in the fielding session. And there are no problems with him. I am comfortable that the two players [Amir and Shadab Khan] who were out due to illness have come back and come back well today,” Arthur said.

Leg-spinner Shadab suffered from a virus infection which prevented his selection for the England series. The spinner, who is a gutsy batsman down the order, a few days ago joined the Pakistan’s World Cup squad in England after regaining fitness.

Arthur believes that Pakistan have all their bases covered ahead of the mega event starting on May 30.

“I am comfortable [because] I think we have covered all our bases [for the World Cup]. Reverse swing is certainly going to play a role as weather has become quite nice in England. And then the ability to bowl in death overs and close out innings is an area we have tried to prioritise. We have got a good mix of players to cover all these bases. I am very comfortably that we have the personnel to deliver whatever playing conditions we are in during the World Cup,” Arthur concluded.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2019