Pak vs NZ: Head coach Mickey Arthur’s new strategy fails again

Following the crushing defeat against New Zealand in the first T20 match on Monday, Pakistan Head Coach Mickey Arthur admitted that Pakistan failed to execute well as they were asked to do.

Talking to the media after the match, the head coach said, “It was very hard to understand and it looks frustrating that after all the shakeups and new roles, our top order didn’t perform well again.”

“We have all the meeting ahead of the game, we talked with guys about the transition from one-day cricket to T20 cricket. But again our top order collapsed,” he said.

“They were playing the shorts as they were trying to score 180 on this pitch,” the disappointed coach said. “Cross batted shorts weren’t the option. We need to assess the conditions well.”

“It was a very in-experience top order tonight and it showed,” he said. “We haven’t given up hope on this group but we need to learn how to setup the total. Setting up a total is a difficult thing with young sides,” he added.

However, backing Pakistan side Arthur said, “This is a good group of young players they will learn a lot with this experience.” He added, “We have got to be smarter, we need to assess better and we need to execute better”.

Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the second T20 on January 25 at Auckland.