CT 2017: We have to attack, we have no option, says Mickey Arthur

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur is all pumped up to take on India in the big final of the ICC Champions Trophy. The two sides will lock horns on June 18 for the ultimate glory. Both teams have had contrasting fortunes leading into the finals. While the bet will be on India as favorites, one cannot rule out Pakistan. They had stunned the tournament hot favorites England in their previous game.

Coach Mickey Arthur is wary of the tough Indian task that lies ahead of them right now. He remarked that the only way to get under the skin of this Indian team is by attacking them. He cited that they need to keep the top three batsmen under check and then expose the middle-order. He added that the middle-order is yet to get a good crack in the competition and that might work in their favor.

“We have to (attack), we’ve got no option. We’ve got to try and make that new ball really work for us. We’ve got to try and get into them. That middle order haven’t had massive hits, they haven’t batted much under pressure of late. So we’ve got to try and put them under extreme pressure particularly by knocking their top order over. If we can do that, we’ve got a real chance of getting to their underbelly,” Mickey Arthur quoted as per the quotes in cricket.com.au.

Using the middle overs

Speaking further on the same note, Arthur noted that the middle overs have been the quiet period in the tournament. They are keen on making the most out of it and not let the Indian team contain wickets in that phase. He is keen on pushing the Indian team and not let them rest one bit during the game. The second powerplay will be the key in the match, believes Arthur.

“Tactically we’d always spoken about our guys wanting to express themselves with the ball and wanting to attack. (The second Power Play) historically has been a bit of a dead period where you’re just trying to squeeze and contain the opposition. But what happens is you just allow the opposition to play, they keep so many wickets in hand that scores are getting too big at the back end,” the Pakistani coach said.

“So we decided that we really wanted to attack those overs. That for us was key and we gave our bowlers the freedom to do that. We’ve got the ball to reverse swing, which is good for us because that’s a massive weapon,” he added.

On skipper Sarfraz

Having a word on skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, Arthur was full of praise for the wicket-keeper batsman. He commended the way Sarfraz has been attacking with his captaincy throughout. He hopes that Sarfraz will continue to do the same in the big finals against India.

“Our execution has been great and we’ve attacked. The captain has kept slips and put catchers in attacking positions and it’s worked for us. He’s very positive. He’s an aggressive captain and he wants to take wickets. That’s how we want to play and I think that’s how you have to play one-day cricket now. He encapsulates all that,” Mickey Arthur conceded.