We need to embrace modern cricket, says Pakistan head coach

Barbados [West Indies], Apr. 13 (ANI): Admitting that Pakistan had been playing cricket "that belonged in the 20th century", head coach Mickey Arthur has asked his players to start embracing the modern trend to make a forward leap in all the formats of the game. "I've told the players that we were playing cricket that belonged in the 20th century," ESPNcricinfo quoted Arthur as saying. "We hadn't embraced the new modern game yet, and that was for a number of reasons, like not playing at home, or [not] having the exposure to the IPL that the rest of the world has had. So there were a lot of mitigating factors, but the fact is, if we've got to compete with them, we have to start embracing the modern trend," he added. With veterans Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan announcing their retirements from international cricket after the Test series in the West Indies, Pakistan look set for a period of transition without two of their stalwarts. The absence of two veterans might intimidate many, but for Arthur it's an opportunity of managing a new team. This task is not new for the 48-year-old as he himself oversaw a young South African team during his stint as their coach and emerge as a unit that is presently ranked No. 2 and No. 1 in Tests and ODIs. "That's what you live for as a coach. I've been lucky in my team with South Africa, where we inherited a team with a couple of senior players, and we put in players like [AB] de Villiers, [Morne] Morkel, [JP] Duminy, [Dale] Steyn," he said. "To see them grow and get better is the most fulfilling thing that can happen for you as a coach. I'm hoping the same happens with this Pakistan team, and I'm incredibly excited about the future," he added. Pakistan earlier this week defeated West Indies in the three-match ODI series. However, they failed to capitalize on the chance to strengthen their case for direct qualification for the 2019 ICC World Cup by winning the series 2-1. The Men in Green only gained a single point where they could have added three points to the total and could have marginally gone ahead of seventh-placed Bangladesh. However, the result leaves them on 90 points with the West Indies on 83. The two teams will now lock horns in the three-match Test series starting April 22 at Barbados.(ANI)