Mickey Arthur will soon be named as the director and consultant for the national squad, according to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Najam Sethi. The possibility of Arthur returning as head coach was being discussed by the board. But, Sethi has since confirmed Arthur’s role following the most recent PCB meeting on Thursday (February 16).
The Pakistani team’s administration has been searching for a suitable successor for the past few weeks as Saqlain Mustaq’s term as head coach has already expired. As the current PSL 2023 concludes, Pakistan cricket is set to make administrative changes. Bowling Coach Shaun Tait is also on his way out. Arthur, who is presently the county club’s head coach in Derbyshire, reportedly already turned down a job offer from PCB. The Najam Sethi-led team, however, was adamant about appointing Arthur in any capacity.
Sethi further disclosed that Arthur and Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed are discussing the selection of the support staff for the senior men’s team. He further stated that Arthur’s association with Pakistan cricket and its players was the motivation behind his hiring. “Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed is working with Arthur to finalize the names of the support staff that will work with the national team. He knows our cricket culture and setup and is respected by the players. As soon as things are finalized, I will ask Mickey to fly down to Pakistan for a meet so that we can get things moving forward,” Sethi told reporters on Thursday as quoted by News18.
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From 2016 to 2019, Arthur held the position with Pakistan, although there were few results and a contentious conclusion. The team also topped the ICC rankings in Tests and T20 Internationals, and he led Pakistan to the 2017 ICC Champions Cup victory. After disagreements with the players, the board opted not to extend Arthur’s contract in August 2019. After leading the Sri Lankan team for nearly a year, he joined Derbyshire in 2021.