This is an archive article published on October 5, 2023
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Mickey Arthur hopes ‘The Pakistan Way’ can win the 2023 World Cup
The Pakistani team director also showed immense faith in out-of-form Shadab Khan.
Pakistan team members attend a practice session ahead of their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match against Netherlands in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Of late England, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia have looked to maximise the 50 overs by playing an attacking brand of cricket. Pakistan, on the other had, continues to play the conventional method of ODI cricket which the team director Mickey Arthur calls “the Pakistan way”.
Speaking ahead of their opening game against the Netherlands on Friday Arthur said, “There are always two ways to skin a cat. I think our bowling attack is up there as one of the best and with runs on the board our bowlers can generally defend that.
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“The likes of England and Australia play this (attacking) brand of cricket … our guys are good enough to do that but we are playing it the way we call it the Pakistan way.”
Click here to follow our liveblog of the Pakistan versus Netherlands match from the World Cup
Pakistan has been meandering around the mid-table in terms of average run rate in ODI cricket with 5.71 since 2019 while defending champions England are at the top with 6.29 during the same period.
While Pakistan have a potent fast-bowling attacks, their middle-over bowling has been a chink in armour for them. Especially with vice-captain Shadab Khan going through a poor run of form with the ball. He managed six wickets in five games at an average of 40.83 during the recently concluded Asia Cup and looked ineffective during the warm-up games as well.
“I wholeheartedly back Shadab’s ability. He is a wonderful cricketer. If you look at his package of bowling, batting and fielding he is exceptional. If we look at his bowling in isolation he is just short of a little confidence he has not lost his ability to turn the ball his googly is still very good he is one performance away from getting that confidence back and making a real big influence on this World Cup,” the Aussie supported the leggie.
Arthur was the Head Coach of Pakistan in 2019 and when asked about the difference between the sides the Aussie said, “I felt in 2019 we were very close (Missed the semifinal spot due to poor NRR). These young boys have now become men and become very experienced and during those four years, we had the best win-loss ratio in ODIs.”
Pakistan team members attend a practice session ahead of their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match against Netherlands in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) 
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