Mickey Arthur obtains Pakistan visa

South African receives Australian nationality, expected to arrive in Pakistan on June 6

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has been granted a Pakistani visa and is expected to arrive in the country on June 6, Express News reported.

The South African had applied for Australian nationality and his passport was submitted in the Australian embassy. However, according to Express News, he has been granted nationality and also a Pakistani visa.

The 48-year-old will join the Pakistan team training camp and the final squads for the four-Test, five-ODI and one-off T20 series against England will be announced on the same day.

Pakistan's style of cricket has to change: Arthur

“It’s a massive challenge without doubt but one that I am excited about,” the 47-year-old has said in an exclusive interview to The Express Tribune after his appointment. “The present ODI ranking of Pakistan isn’t a reflection of a nation so keen on the game. It’s our responsibility to get the rankings to improve.

“The rankings are good in Tests but the challenge is to play well outside the UAE. Bowling — both fast and spin — is exciting, but the concern in the long format is batting outside our conditions as well as fitness and fielding, which will be a priority.”

Arthur recognises the dire straits in both white-ball formats. As in-charge of the team, he wants to make it clear that the now ancient batting approach of keeping wickets in hand for the death overs isn’t going to work. Similarly, bowlers and fielders have to constantly find ways of dismissing opposition batsmen.

“It [batting] has to change, there’s no debate about that. The style of cricket has to change. The challenge is to identify players who are flexible enough to play the modern game and bring at least two skills to the party; they have to uplift both their batting and fielding.”

During the transitory period, Arthur wants to encourage players to be brave about their cricket and take on the opposition head-on.

“We need to look at players who can serve for long, and we should allow them to make mistakes, it will help them improve and play what I call brave cricket,” remarked Arthur. “We have to strive to score runs, getting people run out and getting wickets. We have to play an exciting brand of cricket that stimulates both players and fans.”