Mickey Arthur, the head coach of Derbyshire, reportedly declined a job offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lead the men’s senior national side. The PCB admitted that they tried unsuccessfully to hire the previous head coach and claimed that Arthur’s lengthy contract with Derbyshire prevented it from happening.
Despite a significant opportunity to lead a national cricket squad once more, Arthur has also indicated that he would remain at Derbyshire. He claimed that Derbyshire was dear to his heart and that the residents made him feel at home. “I’ve always said that Derbyshire is a county close to my heart since working with the likes of Eddie Barlow and Fred Swarbrook, and my first season with the Club has only made that feeling grow. Supporters have made me feel instantly welcome, we have a squad full of potential and I’m looking forward to developing it and challenging for silverware at the very top of county cricket,” Mickey Arthur was quoted by Indian Express.
Prior to the 2022 season, the 54-year-old joined Derbyshire and served as Dambulla Aura’s coach in the just-completed Lanka Premier League 2022. Dambulla, to his dismay, completed the season in last place with just two victories from his eight games, but under Arthur, Derbyshire had a successful comeback in the 2022 County Championship.
From 2016 to 2019, Arthur served as Pakistan’s national team’s head coach. He led Pakistan to victory at the 2017 Champions Trophy and the top spot in the ICC T20I Team rankings. But following Pakistan’s dismal performances at the 2019 ICC World Cup, he was fired. The contract of Pakistan’s current head coach Saqlain Mushtaq expires in February 2023, and the PCB is still looking for a replacement.
“Owing to his long-term contract with Derbyshire, we have also discussed a proposal to act as a consultant to the PCB on a time-sharing basis with Derbyshire. Unfortunately, however, this option is proving difficult to materialise for various reasons on both sides. Under the circumstances, the PCB will continue its search for the right person to fit the slot of the national team head coach and some top names are already under consideration,” the PCB said in an official statement on January 10.