KARACHI:Pakistan’s newly appointed cricket coach Mickey Arthur put his future charges on notice Monday, warning he would not compromise on discipline, fitness and fielding ahead of tough tours in England and Australia.
Arthur, who successfully coached his native South Africa from 2005-2010 before migrating to Australia, replaced Waqar Younes, who resigned following Pakistan’s disastrous World Twenty20 campaign in India last month.
His appointment is part of wholesale changes Pakistan made to lift the team, which has slumped to ninth in one-day and seventh in Twenty20 rankings.
The dismal slide is mainly blamed on players’ poor discipline, and Arthur warned in a telephone interview from Perth, Western Australia, that he will be cracking down.
“I will be tough on discipline and that’s the way we can get better and better results,” the 47-year-old said.
“I want everybody to start playing for the team and I don’t want any selfish players around,” he said, calling for “proper values and boundaries.”
Discipline is not a strong point for Pakistan’s notoriously volatile players.
Talented opener Ahmed Shehzad and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal were both left out of the squad’s boot camp training session ahead of July’s tour of England due to disciplinary issues.
Senior batsman Younes Khan also had to apologize after he was served with a show cause notice following his protest over umpiring in a domestic tournament.
Arthur said he will also be tough on fitness and fielding.
“Our bowling is good, but we need to lift our batting massively,” he said.
“I will also be tough on fielding and fitness and need players who can play long-term, and these issues are non-negotiable.”
But he also said he required boldness in his players. “I also want players who aren’t prepared to be bullied,” he said.
Arthur, who was sacked as Australia’s coach 19 months into the job in 2013, will be Pakistan’s fifth foreign coach after Richard Pybus, Bob Woolmer, Geoff Lawson and Dav Whatmore.
He will take charge ahead of the England tour, where Pakistan play four Tests, five one-day and a Twenty20 international matches between July 14-September 7.
They also play three Tests and six one-day in Australia starting in December. In between they will face New Zealand and world T20 champions the West Indies.
The two series against top tier teams England and Australia on their home turf will be “tough,” Arthur said.
“For Pakistan players, those conditions are trying, but I want the team to be up for the challenge.
“Without a doubt we will go to win... If the players show improvement, then I know I am doing my job.”
Arthur said the “sheer challenge” of the Pakistan coaching role — regarded as one of the toughest and most turbulent in international cricket — “really excited me.”
“I know everything about the job, but what I know more is that there is huge passion (for) cricket and there is enormous talent in Pakistan and I think if we can get proper structure in place then we can really get this team far away,” he said.
No compromise on discipline, warns new Pakistan cricket coach
No compromise on discipline, warns new Pakistan cricket coach
Patriots reach Super Bowl in blizzard-hit 10-7 win over Broncos
LOS ANGELES, US: Quarterback Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance since the glory days of predecessor Tom Brady with a blizzard-ravaged 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos Sunday.
In a low-scoring AFC Championship game played out in brutal conditions, Maye rushed for a first-half touchdown, and painstakingly drove the ball downfield after the break to set up a decisive field goal.
No further scoring was possible in the 21 degrees F storm, with the Patriots’ white uniforms barely visible as players slipped and slid across the snow.
“We battled the elements,” said Maye.
“These conditions, it’s not great throwing the football. But hey, we do what we need to do... We’re off to the Super Bowl. Let’s go!“
The Patriots will play either the Los Angeles Rams or the Seattle Seahawks at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on February 8.
The win cements a remarkable resurgence for the Patriots.
After the dominant era of the Brady dynasty that yielded six Super Bowl titles, New England have endured a painful rebuild, going 3-14 in both the previous two seasons.
But under new head coach Mike Vrabel they were a revelation this season, winning 17 games so far and topping the tough AFC East for the first time since 2019.
‘Costly’
Prior to kickoff, all eyes were on the Broncos’ perennial backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who had not thrown a pass in competitive football for two years.
The 29-year-old was thrust into the spotlight when Broncos’ first-choice Bo Nix broke his ankle in the dying moments of last weekend’s victory over the Buffalo Bills.
An understandably nervy Stidham was swiftly and repeatedly blitzed by the Patriots, throwing a wild incomplete pass on an opening drive that ended with a punt.
Moments later his epic 54-yard hurl to Marvin Mims Jr paid off spectacularly, caught deep downfield. Stidham then found Courtland Sutton for the opening TD.
Stidham grew in confidence as the first half progressed, without adding to the lead. The Broncos declined a straightforward field goal attempt at 4th&1 on New England’s 14-yard line, and gave up a turnover on downs.
Then disaster struck, as Stidham fumbled on the Broncos’ 14-yard line for a turnover. Maye, who had been struggling badly, rushed for a touchdown and a 7-7 half-time score.
The fumble would prove “costly,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton admitted after the game.
‘Sick’
The dense snowstorm descended on Denver at the break, making passing difficult and forcing both teams to rely on their run games.
An attritional 18-play drive lasting nearly 10 minutes led to a field goal and slender lead for New England.
The conditions became almost comically treacherous, with multiple players slipping and sliding on nearly every barely-visible play.
Both sides missed multiple field goals in swirling cross-winds, including one blocked by Patriots tackle Leonard Taylor’s fingertips.
With the two-minute warning looming, Stidham attempted a hugely risky 30-yard pass and gave away an interception that proved vital in whiteout conditions.
“It was good at first, and then snow started coming down, wind blowing, I couldn’t see,” said defensive tackle Milton Williams.
“I’m coughing. I’m probably sick right now. But none of that matters. All that matters is that we won the game and we’re going to the Bowl.”
The Patriots, who already boasted the most Super Bowl appearances with 11, will now have their twelfth showing on American football’s biggest stage, and a chance to vie for a record seventh Lombardi trophy.
Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls playing alongside Brady for the Patriots, would be the first person to win the sport’s ultimate prize as a player and coach for the same franchise.
“I won’t win it — it’ll be the players that will win the game, I promise you,” said Vrabel.
