"Players become greedy and that’s hurting international cricket" : Mickey Arthur

[MenInG]

https://arysports.tv/arthur-gutted-over-spot-fixing-scandal-blames-greed/

KARACHI: Pakistan’s head coach Mickey Arthur Tuesday said he felt “gutted” over a fresh alleged spot-fixing scandal that has engulfed his team, adding any players found guilty only had themselves to blame.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has provisionally suspended Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed on charges linked to spot-fixing and meetings with bookmakers in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League.

Arthur, who took over as coach in May last year, said players “need to take responsibility for their actions”.

He added: “Players become greedy and that’s hurting international cricket in general and the recent case has hurt Pakistan.”

He singled out the loss of opener Sharjeel Khan, who scored three consecutive half centuries in the one-day series in Australia in January, as a major blow.

“He (Sharjeel) was in the team for all the formats. He had got his name on the map and he got himself fit and he was about to become an explosive player for us and it’s sad.”

But he added players could not plead ignorance about a failure to report approaches by would-be fixers because they had been warned repeatedly.

“All the boards including the PCB educate the players of the pitfalls,” he said. “They have gotten reams and reams of lectures from the ICC (International Cricket Council) anti-corruption unit and they are doing a great job in education.

“There should be no complacency on the part of the players because losing players to the greed of fixing is hugely disappointing,” he added.

Despite the losses of Sharjeel and Irfan, another regular in the limited overs’ sides, Arthur was upbeat about the team’s chances on the upcoming West Indies tour.

“I am excited to have a new captain in Sarfraz Ahmed,” he said, hailing the wicket-keeper batsman who has replaced Azhar Ali, adding new players would “bring more energy”.

Pakistan and the West Indies — currently eighth and ninth in the one-day rankings — are vying for a direct place in the 2019 World Cup in England.

The world’s top eight teams at the time of the cut off date of September 2017 will qualify for while the rest will feature in a qualifying event in 2018.

 

[MenInG]

https://arysports.tv/preparations-for-west-indies-excellent-says-arthur/

KARACHI: Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur expressed satisfaction with the national side’s preparation for the upcoming tour of West Indies.

“Preparations have been excellent,” Arthur told ARY News on Tuesday.

“We have worked very hard in Lahore,” added the South African about the recently concluded training camp.

Arthur, not for the first time, stressed that Pakistan need to up their game according to the fast-changing style of cricket.

“We need to be brave and play a more attacking and exciting brand of cricket,” he said.

“We need to be far more competitive on the field and variations when we bowl need to be spot on,” added Arthur.

“We need to cut down the percentage of dot balls when we bat.”

Arthur, who coaches Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, defended the national selection committee’s decision to drop fast-bowler Sohail Khan.

Sohail, despite finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the PSL 2, was left out of the national squad.

Arthur said the right-armer needs to improve his fielding and that he is working hard on that.
“Sohail khan is a great bowler, he has worked on his fitness and has developed better habits,” said the Pakistan coach.

“Sohail is very close to my heart,” he added.

Pakistan take on the West Indies in four T20s, three ODIs and three Tests, in a tour which kicks off on March 26.

https://arysports.tv/preparations-for-west-indies-excellent-says-arthur/

 

[Hamza_]

There is hardly anything Mickey Arthur could do when one day he is pin pointing two players to carry the batting line up after giving them a consistent run and within two weeks span one of them gets called out for spot fixing.

I feel sorry for him.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

the exclusion of Sohail Khan would make more sense if you were also carrying Sohail Tanvir in the team who is worse than SK in bowling, batting and fielding.

I hope this is a temporay measure, because not having Sohail Khan, especially in England is just hurting Pakistan. If there is a more serious issue than fans deserve to know

 

[Saj]

Key word being greed.

Look at Mohammad Amir, look at the money and endorsements he lost in those 5 years, all for the sake of greed.

 

[Slog]

There is hardly anything Mickey Arthur could do when one day he is pin pointing two players to carry the batting line up after giving them a consistent run and within two weeks span one of them gets called out for spot fixing.

I feel sorry for him.

All our coaches have to face that so its just part and parcel of the job. Ajmal, Hafeez, Yasir, Irfan, Junaid, Harris,Raza all have gotten banned or injured at bad times in the past couple of years. And obv the trio and Kaneria before that

He knew what he was getting into and should have had some thing like this happening in the back of his mind

 

[Markhor]

I do sympathise with Arthur as he's been put in a tough spot as a result of the fixing suspensions. With Sharjeel, Shahzaib and Latif sidelined - that's three of our most explosive batsmen wiped out.

 

[Slog]

I do sympathise with Arthur as he's been put in a tough spot as a result of the fixing suspensions. With Sharjeel, Shahzaib and Latif sidelined - that's three of our most explosive batsmen wiped out.

Tbf only Sharjeel had established himself

Calling Shahzaib one our most explosive batsmen is a stretch considering he hasn't translated his reputation into performances

 

[moghul]

No one more than Misbah.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

We have gone from Sharjeel to Kami and Shehzad.

I don't care about any of the others but why Sharjeel, you have cost Pakistan cricket so much, selfish fool.

 

[TahirFan]

"It's money for jam, why should I let it go" - Hansie Cronje

 

[PakLFC]

Most Pak players are very poor. Most in their position would be tempted to sell out.

 

[lolpakistan]

Most Pak players are very poor. Most in their position would be tempted to sell out.

Temptation and desire are two different things. A normal Pakistani cricketer would definitely desire to have more money but to be 'tempted to sell out' would come down how morally and ethically strong the person is, regardless of his financial stature. If this was not the case, surely Sharjeel would have been the last person to give in to Spot-fixing while Aizaz Cheema would have been all over the news today.

 

[Yatoo]

Most Pak players are very poor. Most in their position would be tempted to sell out.

It's greed. Not poverty.

 

[cricketInsight]

It's greed. Not poverty.

Absolutely - no point behind the poverty argument. Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, or West Indian players arent much richer than Pakistani players.

 

[Varun]

Sarfraz, young guns excite Arthur ahead of WI tour

KARACHI: Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has expressed optimism that under Sarfraz Ahmed’s leadership the team will go from strength to strength in the build-up to the ICC 2019 World Cup in England.

In an exclusive interview with Dawn on the eve of national squad’s departure for the West Indies, Arthur reckoned there are exciting times ahead of Pakistan.

“I am very excited about the squad selected for the white ball leg of the tour [which begins with a four-match Twenty20 International series and then followed by three ODIs]. We have rewarded good young players for the form shown in domestic cricket and some really good performances in the PSL,” Arthur said hours before the T20 squad left for Dubai en route to the Gatwick airport in London before catching the long flight to Barbados.

“And then we have coupled those selections with the experience of some performing senior cricketers who have the ability to do dual role in the team.

“I love the injection of younger players who bring a new energy to the team. It is really important for us that we now stay consistent with this team and build them up to the 2019 World Cup.”

Arthur, who will complete one year of his tenure with Pakistan during the course of the three-match Test series against the West Indies in May, said the choice of Sarfraz as captain in place of Azhar Ali is the way to go forward.

“I feel Sarfraz is a very good leader who sets a great example for all. He is not scared to attack in the game and that is the brand of cricket we want to play; we have to, in order to challenge the world’s best teams,” he opined.

“We mustn’t forget that the significance of the upcoming ODI matches in the Caribbean. This series is vital to us as a team because if we play well we will get some breathing space between us and the other teams in terms of the World Cup qualification [Pakistan are recently eighth in the ICC rankings, only five points ahead of West Indies with 89], which is so very important.

“We have picked a team with this in mind as well as the long-term development of the team so that come 2019 we are ready and settled to take on the rest of the world.”

The former coach of South Africa and Australia, who will celebrate his 49th birthday three days after the final Test ends in Dominica on May 14, observed Pakistan generally feel the heat because of high expectations from them.

“There is always pressure on Pakistan to perform and it has to be right because we have an unbelievable and passionate fan base; they expect and demand excellence and good results from us as a unit,” Arthur pointed out.

“[But] we are aware of that and practice and train to make the people of Pakistan proud of us.”

Arthur paid wholehearted tribute to the players who went through a strenuous weeklong training camp in Lahore for the West Indies tour.

“I must admit here that the Lahore camp was superb! The players worked extremely hard on all their disciplines and fitness. We also concentrated a lot on our fielding which needs to keep improving,” he stated.

“The attitude of the players towards training, which was very, very tough, was excellent and we are going to the West Indies very well prepared. We left no stone unturned to be honest from that perspective.”

Arthur further emphasised the three matches at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on April 7, 9 and 11 will would give a fair idea where Pakistan stand in terms of competing at the June 1-18 ICC Champions Trophy in England.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the coming matches will help us find right combinations for the Champions Trophy and I am really hoping that some of our younger players really put their hands up jointly in terms of performance,” he stressed. “It is worth noting though the conditions will be very different and for this reason we will have a training camp in England before the start of the Champions Trophy.”

Before signing off, Arthur offered a word of encouragement to the ardent fans of Pakistan while urging them to stand behind Sarfraz and his team.

“The message for the fans is that we aim to make you proud. We are going to try and put together the brand of cricket that is entertaining to watch and can match us with the world’s best at the moment. Together we all must support our captain Sarfraz and the team he will be leading,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, the 15 players of the T20 squad left on Tuesday night along with the team officials.

Five members of the 16-man ODI team — Moham*mad Amir, Junaid Khan, Asif Zakir, Mohammad Asghar and Fahim Ashraf — will leave for the West Indies on Sunday (March 26).

Combined limited-overs squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz (T20 only), Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees Khan (T20 only), Shadab Khan, Sohail Tanvir (T20 only), Usman Khan Shinwari (T20 only), Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir (ODI only), Junaid Khan (ODI only), Asif Zakir (ODI only), Mohammad Asghar (ODI only), Fahim Ashraf (ODI only).

Team officials: Talat Ali (team manager), Mickey Arthur (head coach), Steve Rixon (fielding coach), Grant Flower (batting coach), Azhar Mahmood (bowling coach), Grant Luden (trainer), Shane Hayes (physiotherapist), Shahid Aslam (in-charge tour operations), Major (retired) Azhar Arif (security manager), Mohammad Talha Ijaz (analyst).

Schedule:

March 26: First Twenty20 International (Bridgetown).

March 30: Second Twenty20 International (Port-of-Spain).

April 1: Third Twenty20 International (Port-of-Spain).

April 2: Fourth Twenty20 International (Port-of-Spain).

April 7: First One-day International (Providence Stadium, Guyana).

April 9: Second One-day International (Providence Stadium, Guyana).

April 11: Third One-day International (Providence Stadium, Guyana).

April 15: Practice match (Trelawny Stadium, Jamaica).

April 22-26: First Test (Kingston).

April 30-May 4: Second Test (Bridgetown).

May 10-14: Third Test (Roseau, Dominica).

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1321979/sarfraz-young-guns-excite-arthur-ahead-of-wi-tour

 

[TahirFan]

There is nothing wrong about being greedy and earning as much as possible.

What is wrong is that players involved in fixing are morally and spiritually bankrupt.

 

[PakLFC]

It's greed. Not poverty.

Many are poor as well. Greed as well when they compare themselves to multimillionaire players from across the border with their IPL earnings and all.

 

[MMHS]

Many are poor as well. Greed as well when they compare themselves to multimillionaire players from across the border with their IPL earnings and all.

Poor logic - Scottish footballers at highest level earns in a month, what top EPL players earn in a day. Pogba is paid 300K/week (just base wage, excluding bonus & personal endorsements), while the top players at Celtic earns around 25K/week (without bonus & endorsement - but there is a gap between Pogba's bonus & endorsement & their's as well); average players 15K/week & starters for Scottish Premier League's bottom half teams earn less than 300K/year. Payment in Irish League is even poorer. This comparison will become embarrassing if we consider top NBA or MLB players & Mexican Baseball League players. Besides, by your logic, almost every Bangladeshi & Sri lankan player should be fixer. Apart from Sakib, hardly anyone earns more than Sharjeel or has the potential to earn more. Irony is that, Ashraful was earning at least twice than the 2nd man when he was caught.

Greed definitely, but more than that, I think it's the way cricket runs in Pakistan is responsible. These players are "scouted" at their early ages on potential - by the time, they reach to National level, almost blackmailed to the task. These because, PAK domestic players are still playing mostly as mercenary - paid almost on per match basis like a day laborer, therefore often they are groomed to make as much as possible - no team bondage, no commitment, no professional pride, no ethics. Besides, most of these players (even PAK regulars) play private tournaments like Ramadan Cup, X cup, Y cup, Z cup ... out side PCB's domain - these tournaments are the character spoilers, most of these players sometimes are asked by their owners to do some "small favors" in such matches. Corruption is a habit, which becomes chronic & reckless once you have lost virginity.

Fixing is one issue that's been taken seriously & caught at every level. But, I have seen long back, PAK players taking every medicine (not recreational) at will without consulting anyone - even they don't bother, if they are instructed not to. Part of it is lack of education, but mostly because of damn care feeling - if not Omar Associates, I can play for Port Qasim, through by agent ..... who cares on what to do or not to. These agents have the highest control over the player, rather than PCB, before you become PAK International.

Only & I repeat, only way to cater this is to protect top 150-200 players through proper domestic system, which can take these players out of agents/god fathers' mercy. Bind them under central contract with proper code of conduct regarding their domestic teams, diets, company, coaching staff, fitness, which match/tournaments they are allowed to play or not, where to train, from whom to take money ....... Every season, PAK players play for 5/6 different teams, tournaments in different level under different management, then they play many private leagues - these are young skilled, but very little educated & financially constrained people; unless they are brought into a proper system, it'll always be like African military ...........

 

[yasir]

Poor logic - Scottish footballers at highest level earns in a month, what top EPL players earn in a day. Pogba is paid 300K/week (just base wage, excluding bonus & personal endorsements), while the top players at Celtic earns around 25K/week (without bonus & endorsement - but there is a gap between Pogba's bonus & endorsement & their's as well); average players 15K/week & starters for Scottish Premier League's bottom half teams earn less than 300K/year. Payment in Irish League is even poorer. This comparison will become embarrassing if we consider top NBA or MLB players & Mexican Baseball League players. Besides, by your logic, almost every Bangladeshi & Sri lankan player should be fixer. Apart from Sakib, hardly anyone earns more than Sharjeel or has the potential to earn more. Irony is that, Ashraful was earning at least twice than the 2nd man when he was caught.

Greed definitely, but more than that, I think it's the way cricket runs in Pakistan is responsible. These players are "scouted" at their early ages on potential - by the time, they reach to National level, almost blackmailed to the task. These because, PAK domestic players are still playing mostly as mercenary - paid almost on per match basis like a day laborer, therefore often they are groomed to make as much as possible - no team bondage, no commitment, no professional pride, no ethics. Besides, most of these players (even PAK regulars) play private tournaments like Ramadan Cup, X cup, Y cup, Z cup ... out side PCB's domain - these tournaments are the character spoilers, most of these players sometimes are asked by their owners to do some "small favors" in such matches. Corruption is a habit, which becomes chronic & reckless once you have lost virginity.

Fixing is one issue that's been taken seriously & caught at every level. But, I have seen long back, PAK players taking every medicine (not recreational) at will without consulting anyone - even they don't bother, if they are instructed not to. Part of it is lack of education, but mostly because of damn care feeling - if not Omar Associates, I can play for Port Qasim, through by agent ..... who cares on what to do or not to. These agents have the highest control over the player, rather than PCB, before you become PAK International.

Only & I repeat, only way to cater this is to protect top 150-200 players through proper domestic system, which can take these players out of agents/god fathers' mercy. Bind them under central contract with proper code of conduct regarding their domestic teams, diets, company, coaching staff, fitness, which match/tournaments they are allowed to play or not, where to train, from whom to take money ....... Every season, PAK players play for 5/6 different teams, tournaments in different level under different management, then they play many private leagues - these are young skilled, but very little educated & financially constrained people; unless they are brought into a proper system, it'll always be like African military ...........

Very Well argued post!! - Its amazing how much you know about Pakistani Cricket, while never being there!!

Cricketing Structure is root cause of corrupt culture, that needs to be fixed... When these guys reach at national level they are already corrupt, mainly because of system

 

[PakLFC]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]

Don't have the energy to quote and answer all your points that are mostly irrelevant to what we are talking about here. Scottish footballers may not be as wealthy as EPL ones yet comfortable at the same time. Most Pak players are poorly educated so if they don't make it at Cricket then a lifetime of deprivation awaits them. There is really nothing else most of them know other then Cricket making it very easy for them to sell out. I don't even know one Pak player who seems to have a degree at any subject. As wrong as it may be at the expense of selling their loyalties looking after their family will be their immediate concern.