KARACHI: Mickey Arthur said he was ‘disappointed and hurt’ on Wednesday after he was axed as the Pakistan head coach along with his entire support staff.
Arthur, who has been linked with a move to England, said he had done his best with Pakistan who narrowly failed to reach the recent World Cup semi-finals.
“I am extremely disappointed and hurt,” the South African said shortly after the Pakistan Cricket Board announced his departure. “I did my wholehearted effort to lift Pakistan cricket.”
Arthur’s contract expired after the World Cup, which won by hosts England, and he had asked for a two-year extension.
Meanwhile, reports say Arthur is on the shortlist of names for the next England coach after Trevor Bayliss departs following the ongoing Ashes Test series.
Pakistan won the Champions Trophy in England in June 2017, raising their stock in limited-overs cricket.
That win, Arthur said “brought on a whole new team of young players”.
“We also became world number one in Twenty20 cricket in this period, which was an achievement,” he said.
However, Pakistan has wilted in Tests in the last two years, losing 2-0 to Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates in 2017.
In all, Pakistan won 10 out of 28 Tests under Arthur, losing 17 and drawing one.
Pakistan have also struggled in ODIs in the last two years. Under Arthur, Pakistan won 29 of 66 ODIs, losing 34 with three no-results.
Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2019
