'Somebody has to break that news to Mickey Arthur': Akram tears into PAK coach for constant excuses

South Africa and Pakistan squared off in an ICC ODI World Cup match on Friday in Bengaluru, India. Pakistan decided to bat first after winning the toss, scoring 270 runs (all out) in 46.4 overs. In a remarkable run-chase, South Africa lost nine wickets and reached the target of 271 runs in 47.2 overs. Four straight losses for Pakistan at the ICC ODI World Cup add to their abysmal performance.

3 things you need to know 

•  SA beat PAK by 1 wicket (16 balls left)
• Pakistan lost its 4 consecutive matches in the ICC ODI World Cup
• South Africa are currently at the top of the table

Also Read: Ex-PAK captain points out the biggest loophole

PAK vs SA: Wasim Akram lashes out at Mickey Arthur 

Pakistan lost to South Africa in a nail-biting encounter, therefore dashing their hopes of advancing to the semifinals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Wasim Akram and Moin Khan, two former cricketers from Pakistan, both expressed their displeasure with the decision of Mickey Arthur, the team's head coach, to not make such statements after losing the match. Ex-Pakistani cricketers criticised Arthur for a comment he made in a news conference following Friday's match. Mickey Arthur said: 

“They’re going to be blaming everybody, don’t worry. It’s just the way of the world, “It’s really unfair to start a witch-hunt, certainly on Babar Azam, on Inzi [chief selector, Inzamam-ul-Haq], on our coaches, on the management team.What I do know is the boys have tried and the effort of the coaching staff, the effort of the players has been first-class. If they would see that the amount of effort that the players and staff put in, they would be amazed.” 

“We need to have a look at the holes we have within our team. We need to start improving in a lot of areas and we've got to go home and finish this tournament with three victories. That's what I do know. Every day we'll be trying and we'll be striving to do that."  

The Pakistani squad is in a vulnerable situation following their crushing loss to South Africa by just one wicket in a game they really needed to win. Even if Pakistan were to win their next three games, their prospects of advancing in the competition now hinge on the results of other teams.

In reaction to Arthur's statement, Wasim Akram stated on the A Sports programme, stressing that coaching the team from England would not solve the team's shortcomings. Wasim Akram said:

“Somebody has to break that news to Mickey Arthur, it is part of the job and if you don’t do well, you’ll be criticised if you don’t qualify you’ll get criticised and that’s normal and the boys will also go through it”

Adding to Akram's remarks, Moin mentioned that Arthur had only been a member of the Pakistani squad for two days prior to the World Cup and had only been with the team for three days at the Asia Cup when he was director of cricket. It is noteworthy that, in his present capacity, Arthur has not traveled to Pakistan; instead, he has been teaching the Pakistani players virtually through Zoom conversations. 

Also Read: WC: Shamsi reflects on the unpredictability of cricket

ODI World Cup: What's next for Pakistan?

Pakistan Cricket Team will now face Bangladesh in the ICC ODI World Cup at Calcutta's Eden Gardens on October 31, 2023.