Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur has not lost faith in Babar Azam-led side despite them losing three matches in a row in World Cup 2023. After a shock defeat to Afghanistan in Chennai, Pakistan will face red-hot South Africa at the same venue on October 27. Arthur believes that Pakistan are yet to play a perfect game. However, amidst widespread criticism he believes that there is no fault in the players' attitude.
“I don't think our skills have been where they've needed to be in those last three games, but these players have got the skills. It is up to us as coaches to make sure that we get them firing come Friday by giving them the confidence and the belief that they can turn this around,” Arthur said in a video posted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“We have not put a game together yet. We have not played the complete game. It is up to us to delve, to dig, to give advice, to give information and to give the belief that we can put that perfect game together because we know our perfect game is good enough. Our perfect game is good enough to beat anybody.
“We have to find it because there is a massive ambition within the playing group. The boys are trying out hard in the practice and I cannot fault their effort. I cannot fault attitude. What I can fault is the execution of skills under pressure, and that's something that we continually work on at practice.”
Arthur is well aware of the challenge the Aiden Markram-led South African side poses but backs his players to come good.
“They are a very good cricket team and they're full of confidence because they have played well. I know though that if we do our basics and disciplines right, our skills will come out and we can beat anybody,” Arthur said.
Even if Pakistan win their remaining matches, their qualification for semi-finals will depend on few permutations and combinations. Arthur revealed the chat he had with the Pakistan team in the dressing room.
“We said in the change room the other night that we have got six matches to win the World Cup. We have to get on a streak and win six in a row. We know that as a unit, we know that as a team, we have to make sure we get our strategy 100%. We have to make sure that we get our execution 100% and if we do that, there is no reason why we cannot [win the World Cup],” the 55-year-old said.
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