'Wanted to commit suicide on Sunday': Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur reveals 'state of mind' after loss against India
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur talked about how the reaction after the match against India had hurt the team and him personally.
Pakistan might be breathing a little easy after their win against South Africa in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 on Sunday, but they were incredibly hurt and under huge pressure after their loss against India, revealed coach Mickey Arthur. After losing to arch-rivals India, Pakistani team were slammed heavily by their supporters worldwide. South African-born Arthur also had come under a lot of criticism after the match.
After Pakistan's 49-run win over South Africa, coach Mickey Arthur talked about how the reaction after the match against India had hurt the team and him personally. He went on to say that the loss and the reactions after that match were so painful that it left him wanting to "commit suicide".
However, he quickly added that it was just one performance and his team has bounced back.
"I just think the guys were burnt last week (after the India match). The guys were incredibly hurt by media, by public, by social media, and hopefully we got a proper reaction from them today that can just shut some people up for a little while," said the coach.
Pakistan came out all guns blazing in their virtual knockout tie against South Africa on Sunday. Haris Sohail, who was playing only his second match of the World Cup after being preferred over Shoaib Malik, blasted a brilliant 89 off 59 balls that helped his side to 308/7 from their 50 overs.
He expressed hope that Pakistan will win next three matches and qualify to the semifinals of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. If Pakistan win all their remaining three games and the results of other teams go in their favour, they can still make the semifinals. The 1992 winners face table-toppers New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh in their next three matches.
Mickey Arthur's emotional comment came during the post-match chat with media after Pakistan's win against South Africa.
“It happens so quick. You lose a game, you lose another game. It’s a World Cup. [There’s] media scrutiny, public expectations and then you almost go into survival mode. We’ve all been there,” Arthur said after the match on Sunday.
“Last Sunday I wanted to commit suicide, but it’s only one performance. We always keep telling our players it’s one performance, who’s going to stimulate us today. I thought for us the way Fakhar (Zaman) and Imam (Ul-Haq) went out and got us a start, that sort of quietened the nerves down a little bit.”
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While his suicide comment raised some eyebrows, it may have been jist exaggerated expression to show explain his state of mind after a big loss. However, some may find his words in bad taste. Pakistan's former coach Bob Woolmer had died under myserious circumstances during 2007 World Cup. He was found dead at his hotel room after the team did poorly in the 2007 edition. Woolmer's death was ruled to be due to natural causes.
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Optimistic about his side's chances, Arthur said Pakistan have the capability to beat the best teams in the tournament.
"I know we can beat New Zealand. We are alive and kicking, without a doubt, and if we play our best game, we can beat anybody. Whether that's New Zealand, Afghanistan, Bangladesh. Against England we put our three disciplines together, we are as good as any team in this competition."
Pakistan had played six games in their World Cup campaign so far and only won two matches, against England and South Africa. They stand at the sixth spot in the tournament standings with five points. Only the top four teams of the table will qualify for the semi-final.
(Image: Reuters)