These Pakistan Boys Are Great, Now They Have To Start Believing Just How Good

Saj Sadiq talks to Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur about the development of the team and his blueprint for the future

- Saj Sadiq

You seem to have found great respect among the Pakistan players who consider you more as a mentor and guide.

MICKEY ARTHUR: I am starting to build really good relationships with the players. They are a wonderful bunch and very talented. We are starting to build a good relationship with each other but that doesn’t mean I am soft or tough in anyway; I just call it as I see it. I am honest with them and that is how I feel you develop good relationships. I don’t like to sugar coat anything, I will tell the players exactly as it is and how I see it. They work very hard and are wonderful and really good cricketers and I am developing a close bond with them. It’s all about trust.

What is the most difficult part of dealing with Pakistan players?

MA: There is absolutely nothing difficult at all. I just feel that it’s all about being brutally and totally honest with them. As I have always said that wherever I have worked before, I have encouraged the players to talk to me about anything and not just cricket. Once we are down to that level of relationship, then you know that you have become that mentor-type of person to the players. I believe I am at that level now and I have good relationships with the players and that is pretty heartening for me.

Are there any generic weaknesses in the players that you would like to work with and iron out?

MA: No, they have just got to believe that they are as good as they actually are. The Pakistan boys are very humble and soft individuals. I guess, I have come from a pretty tough school where the soft get eaten a lot and I am pretty keen to see them toughen up a little and give back what they get and stand their ground which they are doing now.