MANCHESTER: Pakistan Head Coach Mickey Arthur Saturday said that his teamwere capable of beating any side in the world provided they put togetherthree disciplines (batting, bowling and fielding) together in a match.
During a pre-match press conference at the Old Trafford here Saturday, hesaid the management needed to give the players optimum space to perform inthe match against India on Sunday, adding the dressing room was verycomfortable and confident for India fixture.
On overpowering Indian top-order batsmen, he said If you can rattle Indiantop-order with the new ball, you can create a lot of havoc in the lowerorder batting although they were a very strong side, adding Pakistanbowlers would try to do that tomorrow.
About any pressure, the Head Coach said the World Cup matches were allpressure games as these carried 2 points while a lot of pressure wascreated by the media, adding that the team was comfortable and excitedabout the opportunity tomorrow.
On plans, he said: “We have not put a perfect game together while thedressing room is very very confident, expressing the hope perhaps tomorrowis the time for a perfect game”.
When asked about the dressing room atmosphere, Mickey said there wasimmense amount of excitement in the dressing room for the kind ofopportunity tomorrow offered to the young team, adding the careers of manymight be defined by one moment of greatness tomorrow and the boys wereupbeat to grab it.
On the fan-following of the Pak-India tie, he said he did not claimPak-India was the biggest rivalry in sports, adding the statistics revealedthat the Soccer World Cup attracted 1.6 billion viewers while some 1.5billion viewers are expected to watch Pak-India match tomorrow.
He said the tomorrow’s Pak-India match provided a huge opportunity to theteam Pakistan, adding it was an opportunity for the side to make their markand see how did they want to be remembers in the annals of history.
About the team strategy for tomorrow’s match, Mickey Arthur said the pitchlooked pretty brown and flat but the decision regarding the final elevenwould be taken before the toss.
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Defending the decision to play four fast bowlers in Taunton, he saidTaunton pitch was green and moist and one would have been silly not to playfour players and even the Australians did the same, adding he was not surethere was a lot of amount of moisture in the wicket at Old Trafford.
About previous team performances, Pakistan Head Coach said the team battedvery well but we were found short a little in the bowling area againstAustralia, adding Pakistan had been very close in most games even in theseries against England prior to this tournament.
On the ‘unpredictable team’ tag, he said he did not like when thecommentators talked aout Pakistan being an unpredictable side, addingPakistan were an exciting young team which had become well-structured.
About the preparations, he said the team was fully prepared for thetomorrow’s match, adding that they had done every things under theircontrol but they had no control over the weather.
To a query, he said one should not forget that Pakistan is a young sidewith many young players and they augur well for the future of Pakistancricket.
Defending Shoaib Malik, the Head Coach said Shoaib Malik had played morethan 200 matches, adding the veteran all-rounder was not played in againstWest Indies, got batting in last three overs against England while hebrings a lot to the dressing room.
He said Malik was an incredible team-man, adding Shoaib Malik and MuhammadHafeez’s experience and skill would go a long way to help this young teamtomorrow.
