Every News: Arthur promises to come up with best-prepared WC team

Arthur promises to come up with best-prepared WC team
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LAHORE: Head coach Mickey Arthur has promised to come up with a best prepared team to represent Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup but did not promise victory.Mickey said: “He can promise here will be the best prepared squad that has ever left the shores of Pakistan to go and represent the very passionate county in a Cricket World Cup but I can’t promise we are going to win but we are going to give it our very best shot.”Mickey who was addressing a press conference on his return from Pakistan series against Australia, stated that he was disappointed with the defeat. But still he saw several positives out of the 5-0 whitewash of the national team at the hands of his former team as coach Australia. Though disappointed from the defeat, Mickey found brightness in the team’s performance ahead of the World Cup.“I hate losing; we hate losing as a team. Losing is not part of our vocabulary and we don’t prepare teams to lose so losing hurts,” he maintained.Mickey called the Australia series as a tour of opportunity for a number of reasons. “It was an opportunity to rest our key players ahead of very demanding schedule leading to the World Cup.“We have 11 full-fledged games from the beginning of May until our first World Cup game. That includes three games against counties, a game against England in a T20 form, five ODIs against England and two warm up games before the World Cup. It gives us significant games of cricket before the start of the World Cup. “So we called it a tour of opportunity to look at a final few places. Inzi (chief selector) and I had to look at some final places we were looking to secure and looked at areas we wanted players for. We wanted to give out next tier of players an opportunity to play at the highest level to see that what they can do because they are only good as a good bench strength.“For us bench strength is incredibly important because we wanted to look at those players. We had five hundreds across the series, what is an impressive and a positive thing. We certainly found a batsman, and a young quick bowler who will serve Pakistan cricket well for the years to come. And we sorted fast bowlers issues out well before leading to the World Cup. “We saw lot of positives, with quite a few negatives as well which needed to be sorted out quickly. But obviously, losing five ODIs to Australia hurts us incredibly. As a Pakistan team weather it’s your first team or a second, as they are representing the nation so to lose five ODIs is very much disappointing.”On fitness of the players, Mickey was clear in his remarks: “Absolutely there will be no compromise on fitness standards and fielding. But its acceptable when you see a lot of guys like Abid Ali and Husnain who were not in our set up before. They did not know our standards and we will work with those guys. And guys who have been in our set up long before and know our standards for that we will never ever compromise that fitness standards.All our key players are fit enough and ready to go to the World Cup. It’s a bench strength players and we will see how they will be educated when their time comes or they are ready to go.” He further stated that the fitness test of the players will be held on April 14 and 15.On Mohammad Amir, he said that he is a skillful bowler and is picking up temperament. It’s not about his form, he has bowled but haven’t taken wickets. We will sit down and make up decision in a next couple of days along with the selection panel to finalise the team, he added. Mickey was very much impressed with Abid Ali’s behavior and debut century. “Abid Ali was very impressive, he came into the set up, his attitude, his work ethics and extra little bit of work he did on the tour was incredible. He is a hungry man who wants to play cricket for Pakistan.”He further stated that he and inzi had talked a lot after every game and we are very clear of the direction and clear of the team to represent Pakistan at the World Cup. “Coaches have been asked to give him plans of individual players and their variation. In terms of individual player we have plan for every player including our reserve players for England tour as well as the World Cup because players get injured and back up is required.” He also praised Asif Ali and Umer Akmal and called Rizwan as a valuable player. “Umer Akmal’s attitude throughout the tour was very good, he trained very hard worked and tried very hard to impress but would be disappointed to get a big innings.”He said that Sarfraz is the first choice wicketkeeper and is going to lead the team in the World Cup but Rizwan is a very valuable member of our team.He also praised Asif Ali saying he loves him and he has a potential to be a finisher for the team in the World Cup.The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 will take place in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14. The PCB will announce the schedule of activities in due course.As per the ICC regulations, all participating sides have to submit their 15-player World Cup squads by April 31 but can make changes until May 22 without needing the ICC’s approval. Post May 23, all player replacements will have to be approved by the Event Technical Committee.The Pakistan cricket team will depart for England on April 23 where they will play England in a series of practice and international matches, before entering the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against the Windies on May 31 at Trent Bridge.The following is the Pakistan cricket team’s schedule of England:Series v England23 April – Departure for England27 April – v Kent (50-over practice match) (d)29 April – v Northamptonshire (50-over match) (d)1 May – v Leicestershire (T20 match) (d/n)5 May – v England (only T20I), Cardiff (d)8 May – 1st ODI v England, The Oval (d)11 May – 2nd ODI v England, Hampshire (d)14 May – 3rd ODI v England, Bristol (d)17 May – 4th ODI v England, Trent Bridge (d)19 May – 5th ODI v England, Leeds (d)ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 schedule:24 May – v Afghanistan (warm-up), Bristol (d)26 May – v Bangladesh (warm-up), Cardiff (d)31 May – v Windies, Trent Bridge (d)3 June – v England, Trent Bridge (d)7 June – v Sri Lanka, Bristol (d)12 June – v Australia, Taunton (d)16 June – v India, Old Trafford (d)23 June – v South Africa, Lord’s (d)26 June – v New Zealand, Edgbaston (d)29 June – v Afghanistan, Headingley (d)5 July – v Bangladesh, Lord’s (d/n)