‘When there's insecurity, players start playing for themselves’ - Micky Arthur explains state of Pakistan cricket

After a disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup, Babar Azam stepped down as the captain of the team as PCB announced Shaheen Shah Afridi as the new T20I skipper while Shan Masood was handed the same role in Test cricket. However, nothing much has changed as Pakistan suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Australia in Test cricket while New Zealand defeated them 4-1 in the five-match T20I series.

Speaking about their recent struggle in international cricket, former head coach Micky Arthur, who was part of the squad during the World Cup in India, stated that the players behave differently when there’s insecurity. He mentioned that when a player’s role is secured in the team, the environment remains good but it changes as soon as there’s insecurity. He added that there’s a lot of talent in the country but there’s enough support from the management.

“When there's security within the environment, Pakistan is very good. When there's that insecurity, players start playing for themselves instead of the team because they're thinking of the next tour, and the next contract. That's a dangerous place to be in, and that's kind of where Pakistan cricket is now. And that's something that's very disappointing and sad for me,” Arthur told ESPNcricinfo.

“There's a massive amount of talent there, There are some world-class players, not just talented players. They're not given the support structure that they need to flourish,” he added.

I think Pakistan cricket is in a very disappointing place: Arthur

Arthur mentioned that he will still follow Pakistan cricket despite being removed as the head coach after the World Cup. However, it’s a bittersweet relationship now as the veteran coach added that Pakistan is in a very disappointing place at the moment.

“I still follow Pakistan cricket and I'll always follow it. But the vigour and thirst and passion I have for Pakistan cricket waned a little bit after that. To be brutally honest, I think Pakistan cricket is in a very disappointing place,” he concluded.