Pak coach Arthur upset with team's show

Pakistan’s head coach, Mickey Arthur is disappointed with the team’s abject surrender to England in the second Test at Leeds.

Talking to Pakistani media personnel in Leeds, Arthur also felt that the team had squandered a golden opportunity to win a Test series in England after 22 years.

“I am disheartened by the performance of my team. That they didn’t put up a fight in the second Test is of concern for me,” Arthur said.

The foreign coach was over the moon after Pakistan beat Ireland in the one-off Test last month and then went onto upset England in the first Test at Lords.

“Honestly speaking, I felt that we surrendered in the second Test at Leeds. In my time with this team, I found this performance the most disappointing,” the coach added.

Arthur emphasised that win and lose was part of cricket but it is important for a team to always show fight.

“It is all about how you lost, did you put up enough off a fight. If you ask me if this young team had won the series two-nil it would have gone upwards and improved to an extent that no one can imagine,” he said.

The head coach made it clear that despite winning the Ireland Test and drawing the series against England he was not happy with the performance of the side.

But he was happy that the performance of the young side had silenced many critics and surprised some pundits. He admitted that the team was under pressure in the second Test.

“The team just couldn’t absorb the pressure in the second innings at Leeds. I thought England bowled very well. They were disciplined and stuck to their plan. Once they had us initially under pressure they never allowed us to escape.”

Arthur said despite his disappointment he felt that the young team needed to be given some credit and the players deserved to be supported.

“I am not giving excuses but I think this is a young team and it is learning. Some of the players showed their class on this tour and improved their standing.”

The Pakistan coach said he wanted to see senior batsmen, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq play in county cricket to polish them.

“Instead of seeing them play in some T20 league, I want to see them play county cricket because Asad is a quality player while Azhar is world class. We have a lot of expectations from them. We expected a lot from them in England in the series. Asad batted well but Azhar struggled. But he is too good a player to not come good soon.”