Mickey Arthur feels the team’s low confidence cost them the game against India

Nobody would have expected the India vs Pakistan clash at Edgbaston to be as one-sided as it was. India looked the favourites throughout their 124-run win, while Pakistan couldn’t put up a fighting spirit. Pakistan’s coach Mickey Arthur was flooded with questions after the humiliating loss and the master lost his cool on some occasions. After the game, Pakistan stand at the bottom of their group.

In the meantime, India vs Pakistan clashes are also losing their charm because the current Pakistan side is nothing like that of the yesteryears. There is no fierce competition and the results, in the last few games, have always gone in India’s favor. Pakistan cricket lost its very identity somewhere along the way.

When the coach was questioned how long would his side take to start winning against quality opposition again, Arthur retorted, “How long is a piece of string? It’s a total insult to say we’re playing even worse than last year (when he took over as coach). We’ve won two series in the past year, and got ourselves from No. 9 to No. 8. Our brand of cricket has changed. To ask me that question is an insult to how hard these boys have trained. This defeat will not take Pakistan backward, maybe it could take it forward,” he said.

Fear has got to the team 

He further explained that the major issue with the team is that it is grappling with fear. The fear and the magnitude of the clash as big as India vs Pakistan got the better of the team. Due to fear, the team ends up doing basic things wrong, like dropping simple catches, feels Arthur.

“My issue is fear. My issue is getting out there and really looking to take the game on, just believing in themselves. We didn’t set the tone. The only thing I can think of is that the magnitude of the occasion got to them. I don’t know why they were cramping. Maybe I need to take it up with the medical team. The worrying thing is that we just do the basics wrong.”

The next game for Pakistan will be against the mighty South Africa on June 7.