Mickey Arthur sets out his plans for Pakistan's national cricket team
Thursday 9 June 2016 17:39, UK
Mickey Arthur, the new coach of Pakistan, has both short and long term visions for the cricket-mad country.
The 48-year-old took over from Waqar Younis who resigned in April following Pakistan's disastrous first-round exit from the World Twenty20.
He enjoyed success with South Africa who, under his control, topped the Test rankings in 2008, before enduring a less memorable spell as head coach of Australia.
Looking ahead to his new role, he said: "My short term plan is to create a cricket culture and the long term plan is to make the team number one in all three forms of the game.
"Our Test cricket seems to be very good at the moment. If we can play well outside the subcontinent that means that the team's really going forward."
Pakistan are currently No 3 in the Test ranking but only No 9 in the ODI list and No 7 at Twenty20.
Arthur's first task as Pakistan coach will be to steer his new team in the four-Test series against England, starting at Lord's on July 14.
The Johannesburg-born former batsman is happy to have fast bowler Mohammad Amir in his squad. Back in 2010, Amir was banned from cricket for five years for his part in the spot-fixing scandal.
Along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, Amir was found guilty of taking money for no-balls which were deliberately bowled during the Lord's Test.
The trio were also given prison sentences and now, having been granted a visa by the British authorities to travel to England this summer, Amir has been offered a chance to resurrect his international career.
And Arthur is unconcerned about the 24-year-old's past: "Amir is a fantastic professional.
"I am only interested in making him the best and other stuff is irrelevant to me and what people say about him."
